1
as in novices
a person who is just starting out in a field of activity
an impertinent punk who was trying to tell senior colleagues how to do their jobs
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in thugs
a violent, brutal person who is often a member of an organized gang
the vigilante was hailed by some as a hero for standing up to the punks who had repeatedly threatened his family
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of punks
The Cuckoo’s Nest/Zubie’s parking lot in Costa Mesa became ground zero for clashes between punks and cowboys.
—
Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 31 Aug. 2025
Their wild, psychedelic shows became a notorious rite of passage for punks and innocent civilians across the nation—Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love allegedly met at a Buttholes show in Seattle in 1991.
—Pat Blashill, Rolling Stone, 28 Aug. 2025
My dad used to hang out with the punks in Montreal in the 70s.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Aug. 2025
Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 31 Aug. 2025
Their wild, psychedelic shows became a notorious rite of passage for punks and innocent civilians across the nation—Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love allegedly met at a Buttholes show in Seattle in 1991.
—Pat Blashill, Rolling Stone, 28 Aug. 2025
My dad used to hang out with the punks in Montreal in the 70s.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punks
Noun
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For seasoned cooks and kitchen novices, cookbook author and nutritionist Robin Miller takes it back to basics with great, family-friendly recipes worth making over and over again.—
Robin Miller,
AZCentral.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Instructors are on hand to teach novices.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Their neighbor, an older Jewish woman, gets arrested and Nazi thugs brazenly loot her apartment.—
Rabih Alameddine
September 2,
Literary Hub,
2 Sep. 2025
-
As night falls, armed thugs roam the streets and families pick up guns to protect themselves.—
Oren Liebermann,
CNN Money,
24 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
NurPhoto via Getty Images Arizona’s Horseshoe Bend Trail is the second-best hiking trail for beginners, the InsureMyTrip study says.—
Gary Stoller,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
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For beginners, Quicken Simpli would be a better choice, but for those with experience, Quicken Classic Premier provides more options.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Our research suggests that the vast majority of Republican voters want to close loopholes that allow criminals and dangerous people to get their hands on guns.—
Gabby Giffords,
Time,
11 Sep. 2025
-
The days of letting dangerous criminals terrorize American citizens are over.—
Dan Gooding,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Managers worry that apprentices may miss the chance to learn institutional best practices with each project outsourced.—
Srishti Gupta,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Sep. 2025
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Ritter says the company starts to see a return on investment in its apprentices by Year 3.—
Andy Tonsing,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
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There’s also a tropical storm circulating, as if the gangsters flew in from the tropics.—
John Metcalfe,
Mercury News,
12 Sep. 2025
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Others are new, building on a genuinely fresh and funny revelation that explains not only a cold open involving yakuza gangsters half a world away in Osaka, but also why this quaint town is sitting on a stash of weaponry big enough to overthrow the governments of several small nations.—
Katie Rife,
IndieWire,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Next, anion exchange membrane (AEM) electrolyzers are considered promising newcomers in electrolysis technology.—
Kapil Kajal,
Interesting Engineering,
17 Sep. 2025
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Classic black and stainless steel are taking a backseat to bold, bright hues as kitchenware brands—including stalwarts such as Le Creuset and KitchenAid, as well as newcomers like Great Jones and Caraway—embrace color in the kitchen.—
Heather Riske,
Better Homes & Gardens,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Over $200 Off NFL Sunday Ticket NFL fans can make out like bandits with the DraftKings Sportsbook welcome offer.—
Tyler Everett,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Sep. 2025
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Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern were cast as the bumbling but dogged bandits, Harry and Marv, and Catherine O’Hara brought humor and compassion to the part of Kevin’s mother.—
Tim Greiving,
Vulture,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Punks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punks. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.
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