1
as in cheese
that which is of low quality or worth
couldn't believe that such junk was chosen to be read for the book club my car is junk—it spends more time in the shop than on the road
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in garbage
discarded or useless material
junk on the side of the road waiting for the trash collection
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to dump
to get rid of as useless or unwanted
we'll have to junk this old car
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of junk
Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 6 Jan. 2026
Shortly after, ratings agencies S&P Global and Fitch Ratings each issued BB credit ratings on the company’s debt noting stable outlooks, placing the company’s rating in junk territory.
—Lillian Rizzo, CNBC, 5 Jan. 2026
Keith Law, New York Times, 31 July 2025
Streaming’s surge is powered by younger consumers who have junked the TV habit or never picked it up in the first place.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for junk
Noun
His trial was apparently beset with junk evidence and a lackluster defense, with faulty ballistics evidence going unchallenged by his attorney.
—Verb
His command has improved, and he’s gone from getting lit up against lefties to passable by junking his split-change, using a different grip for a true changeup to give him a viable option against left-handed hitters.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for junk
Noun
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The healthy-dose of cheese in this recipe will convert even the most ardent broccoli hater.—
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Turkey meal includes mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, green beans, broccoli salad; ham meal includes mac and cheese, turnip greens, broccoli salad, hashbrown casserole.—
Noun
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That’s the whole point of that process of aging and using garbage bags and paint.—
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Raising the city’s garbage fee was another structural solution that aldermen and the mayor opted to avoid because of similar political difficulties.—
Verb
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In a class-action suit, originally launched in 1993, the Cofán accused Texaco of dumping 18 billion gallons of oily wastewater across their ancestral lands between 1964 and 1990.—
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The novel follows children’s librarian Daphne after her fiancé, Peter, dumps her for his childhood best friend, Petra.—
Noun
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Piles of human scraps offer a bottomless buffet to wildlife, and to access that bounty, animals need to be bold enough to rummage through human rubbish but not so bold as to become a threat to people.—
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Helga once wrestled down a drunk fisherman in the Café, a man of above-average size, and then threw him out like a piece of rubbish; Jens thus transfers most of his weight automatically to her; who is this kid, by the way?—
Noun
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Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.—
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Rescuers retrieved eight people alive and were searching for the missing still trapped after a huge mound of garbage and debris collapsed on them in the village of Binaliw in Cebu city, police said.—
Verb
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Reserve the smooth strained mixture and discard any solids.—
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Health inspectors cite the bagel shop after the half-and-half at the customer self-service counter was not discarded at the appropriate time.—
Noun
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However, do not compost plant debris and soil of plants that had pest and disease issues, but dispose of it in the trash.—
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Wayne’s body was found by a passing driver in a northeast Aurora field littered with trash and debris one month after she was last seen alive, with her clothes and purse were strewn about the area, according to the affidavit.—
Noun
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Researchers revealed that the high-voltage output facilitates the neutralization and collection of dust and moisture by generating negative ions.—
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Adding a dust ruffle around the base of your bed can make this spot even better for keeping messy items hidden.—
Video
Some Odd Words with ISMO: "Junk in the Trunk"
Comedian ISMO on what separates a boot from a trunk
Cite this Entry
“Junk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/junk. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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