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
For example, in Granada, there is a community of ravers, punks, that have been there since the time of Margaret Thatcher.
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Damon Wise, Deadline, 16 Dec. 2025
All these young punks and musical savants appearing under the repressive atmosphere of the academy may require some suspension of disbelief (as does Lilisa’s gravity-defying hair).
—Kambole Campbell, Vulture, 9 Dec. 2025
The lower-cut model was designed for factory floors and workshops but was quickly adopted by punks and other subcultures.
—Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 25 Nov. 2025
Berghaus embraced the punks and ravers, recognizing in them a version of the subversive spirit that drives the very best alpinists.
—Jeff Moag, Outside, 24 Nov. 2025
The Little Rock punks were generally supportive of the band.
—David Hill, Rolling Stone, 15 Oct. 2025
Borrowing from the flamboyance of the New Romantics, the edginess of punks and the melancholic themes in their music, goth makeup was dark, vampiric, and vaguely dangerous—an aesthetic music fans copied when gathering at goth haunts like the Batcave in London.
—Sophia Panych, Allure, 8 Oct. 2025
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
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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Most of the 31 playoff novices — accounting for roughly 58% of the 53-man roster — were along for the entire ride and played key roles in helping to get Carolina to the postseason.—
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Canon offers a wide range of DSLR cameras for novices and professionals alike.—
Noun
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Even the Democrat hacks at Massport understood the insanity of dumping hundreds more of these thugs into one of the few functioning hubs of commercial activity left in New England.—
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Of course, Sarah and her mom continue to believe that God is on their side, even after the family home is attacked by oil company thugs and a reliable ally winds up on the wrong end of a shotgun.—
Noun
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For beginners, a version using two light dumbbells is a good introduction.—
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There are even lessons for beginners who may want to start a new hobby over the winter.—
Noun
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The first thing to do is to reduce the damage to the United States, the inflow of guns and criminals and immigrants and drugs into the United States, the destabilizing of a key part of the Western Hemisphere.—
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Also, place freezes with ChexSystems and the National Consumer Telecom and Utilities Exchange to stop criminals from opening bank accounts, phone lines, or utility services in his name.—
Noun
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And many of those apprentices — in skilled trades, electricians, laborers, carpenters — are already at work strengthening and building the physical foundations of our state.—
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The apprentices shopped for and wrapped hundreds of presents for the students.—
Noun
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The gangsters grew powerful running liquor during Prohibition.—
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Beset by gangs and guns, the Haçienda faltered in the ’90s despite clever-sounding schemes such as replacing the club’s security with the gangsters themselves.—
Noun
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Several Icons work alongside newcomers, assisting with citizenship applications and teaching music and language classes that preserve their community's cultural heritage.—
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The participants include many of the club’s top prospects, along with several newcomers who have joined the Red Sox organization this offseason.—
Noun
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The robbery lasted less than seven minutes, as the bandits used a truck with an extendable ladder to cut through a window on a second-floor balcony, according to police.—
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In return, a lord provided his peasants with protection from bandits or invaders.—
Cite this Entry
“Punks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punks. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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