spunk
7 synonyms for spunk, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — Courage, spirit, or determination.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use spunk
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
plenty of spunk
show some spunk
The "courage" sense is informal but not rude; the anatomical sense is vulgar slang, mainly British.
Etymology
From a 1500s blend of "spark" and an old word "funk" meaning spark or tinder.
Full origin of spunk →Frequently asked questions
What does “spunk” mean?
The word “spunk” means courage, spirit, or determination. In plain terms, mostly used to mean feisty courage or determination; also a vulgar slang term.
How do you pronounce “spunk”?
“Spunk” is pronounced spuhngk (/spʌŋk/ in IPA).
How do you use “spunk” in a sentence?
Here is “spunk” used in a sentence: “It took real spunk for her to speak up in front of the board.”
What part of speech is “spunk”?
“Spunk” is a noun.
Where does the word “spunk” come from?
The word “spunk” dates back to around 1500. From a 1500s blend of "spark" and an old word "funk" meaning spark or tinder.
How many meanings does “spunk” have?
“Spunk” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: courage, spirit, or determination.
