as in courage
the strength of mind that enables a person to endure pain or hardship
had the spunk to overcome a severe physical disability
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of spunk
Those recordings hold up for their crystalline sound and youthful spunk.
—
Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2025
Further, students should embrace their true voice in the letter, showing their quirks, personality, and spunk.
—Christopher Rim, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
Like things could change for the better if only a few teenagers with the right balance of spunk and smarts showed up.
—Lizz Schumer, People.com, 18 Mar. 2025
Think of Usher’s costume-leaning spunk, Erykah Badu’s eccentricity, Teyana Taylor’s punk sensibility, Lauryn Hill’s just-go-for-it attitude, and Gunna who is experimental at times.
—Julian Randall, Essence, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spunk
Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2025
Further, students should embrace their true voice in the letter, showing their quirks, personality, and spunk.
—Christopher Rim, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
Like things could change for the better if only a few teenagers with the right balance of spunk and smarts showed up.
—Lizz Schumer, People.com, 18 Mar. 2025
Think of Usher’s costume-leaning spunk, Erykah Badu’s eccentricity, Teyana Taylor’s punk sensibility, Lauryn Hill’s just-go-for-it attitude, and Gunna who is experimental at times.
—Julian Randall, Essence, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spunk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spunk
Noun
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Ironically, the very adaptability and intellectual courage the future demands are often harder to cultivate in today’s college climate.—
Sarah Hernholm,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
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In an atmosphere of repression and fear, these women discover courage, solidarity, and the power of imagination through the simple transformative act of reading together.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
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For your fights, your moments of glory, your grit.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
14 Sep. 2025
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For breakfast and lunch, there’s Gulf shrimp in a moat of creamy grits and massive triangles of quiche suspending earthy layers of collard greens.—
The Bon Appétit Staff,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
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This is a testament to her mental fortitude, perhaps strongest of the three.—
Merlisa Lawrence Corbett,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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Throughout the writhing and the screaming, Julia’s fortitude wears down a defiant Davina, whose history with Lovat feeds the moment.—
Hunter Ingram,
Variety,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
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From families torn apart to moments of hope emerging in the face of unspeakable tragedy to incredible bravery against the odds, each episode reveals the human cost and resilience born out of chaos.—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Sep. 2025
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These include helping your family, helping your group, demonstrating reciprocity, demonstrating bravery, respecting a hierarchy and your superiors, dividing resources in an equitable way and respecting ownership of property.—
Tracy Brower,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Sixteen-year-old Ray Garraty is about to compete in the annual grueling match of stamina and wits known as the Long Walk.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
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That was a different type of stamina to stay in that emotional truth.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Fish that will be made into a filet are split, with the meat heading in one direction, and the guts and roe down another conveyer belt.—
Andrew Watman,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
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Two of Pluto's midsize moons may be made of the guts of its largest moon, Charon, new research suggests.—
Nola Taylor Tillman,
Space.com,
1 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio made that determination earlier this year, citing Khalil's advocacy.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
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What’s proven to work well in practice in that local climate zone (search results provide enough clarification for one to swiftly make that determination) is what’s needed.—
Richard Olsen,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spunk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spunk. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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