junk 1 of 2

noun

ˈjəŋk How to pronounce junk (audio)
Definition of junknext
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

junk

2 of 2

verb

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

Synonym Chooser

How is the word junk different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of junk are cast, discard, scrap, shed, and slough. While all these words mean "to get rid of," scrap and junk imply throwing away or breaking up as worthless in existent form.

scrap all the old ways
would junk our educational system

When is it sensible to use cast instead of junk?

The meanings of cast and junk largely overlap; however, cast, especially when used with off, away, or out, implies a forceful rejection or repudiation.

cast off her friends

Where would discard be a reasonable alternative to junk?

Although the words discard and junk have much in common, discard implies the letting go or throwing away of something that has become useless or superfluous though often not intrinsically valueless.

discard old clothes

How do shed and slough relate to one another, in the sense of junk?

Shed and slough imply a throwing off of something both useless and encumbering and often suggest a consequent renewal of vitality or luster.

shed a bad habit
finally sloughed off the depression

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of junk
Noun
Then there are others with more junk drawers than regular ones and small collections of stuff that have accumulated over time. —Allie Volpe, Vox, 26 Mar. 2025 But a funny thing happened on the way to the cinematic junk heap. —Chris Lee, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2025
Verb
This episode of What’s Ahead makes the case for junking the tax code and replacing it with a simple, single-rate system: the flat tax. —Steve Forbes, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024 The ratings agency Fitch restored Delta’s investment-grade credit rating this July after cutting it to junk during the early years of the COVID-19 pandemic. —Melvin Backman, Quartz, 18 Nov. 2024 See All Example Sentences for junk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for junk
  1. cheese
  2. garbage
  3. dump
  4. rubbish
  5. debris
  6. discard
  7. trash
  8. dust
Noun
  • The onion and cheese is baked at 400 degrees for 18 minutes or until everything forms a single, golden-brown layer.
    — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2025
  • After sampling a few local cheeses, visiting gastronomes can embark on an in-depth immersion into the region’s dairy industry with a trip to Ecoagroturismo Arqueixal, a small-scale operation that provides ample insight into the Galicia of yore.
    — Jared Ranahan, Forbes.com, 13 Apr. 2025
Definition of cheese
Noun
  • Mountains of garbage are said to be visible from space and people have complained of seeing rats as big as cats in the refuse.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 8 Apr. 2025
  • With the parent club, Davison has been stuck behind Derrick White, Jrue Holiday and Payton Pritchard on the backcourt depth chart, limiting him to 15 mostly garbage-time appearances this season.
    — Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 12 Apr. 2025
Definition of garbage
Verb
  • Atmospheric rivers out West also tend to dump their heaviest rain over the open water in the Pacific, because the storms they’re associated with typically peak in strength there.
    — Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 18 Apr. 2025
  • The dogs were reported by passersby who alerted the KC Pet Project that dogs appeared to be dumped and roaming the area.
    — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 18 Apr. 2025
Definition of dump
Noun
  • The site was first excavated beginning in 1995, and in 2018, scientists began collecting, analyzing and radiocarbon dating fossils unearthed from El Gigante rubbish piles.
    — GrrlScientist, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025
  • Last year, a dumpster diver in Hudson, New York, stumbled upon an extraordinary find: An 18th-century pen-and-ink sketch by English portraitist George Romney was hidden amid the rubbish.
    — Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Feb. 2025
Definition of rubbish
Noun
  • Those headed to Asheville can help with debris removal and rebuilding projects through All Hands and Hearts and the United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County, while Los Angeles visitors can volunteer with L.A. Works to repair homes, assemble food packages and organize clothes for survivors.
    — Shoshi Parks, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Associated Press video showed the hospital’s caved-in roof surrounded by debris.
    — Wafaa Shurafa and Samy Magdy, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2025
Definition of debris
Verb
  • The patients alleged the company didn’t disclose the risk of false positives in genetic testing on embryos, which led them to discard potentially viable embryos.
    — Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 11 Apr. 2025
  • Transfer carrot mixture to a platter using a slotted spoon; discard thyme sprigs.
    — Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of discard
Noun
  • From a free boat ride in the Florida Keys that targets the trash in treasured waters, to hotels with sustainability at their core, to thrilling eco-friendly experiences, make your trip to Florida both fun and impactful.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 7 Apr. 2025
  • In those instances, give your extra set of hands a straightforward task, like taking out the trash or clearing the table.
    — Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 6 Apr. 2025
Definition of trash
Noun
  • Inhaled silica dust particles travel down airways and into the smallest spaces of the lung, causing scarring and eventually difficulty breathing, often becoming so severe that a lung transplant might be the only solution to avoid death.
    — Dr. Mark Abdelmalek, ABC News, 10 Apr. 2025
  • The dust bin capacity is pretty good as well, the Kompressor technology promises 2.4 times more space.
    — Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of dust

Browse Nearby Words

juniors
junk
junked
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Cite this Entry

“Junk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/junk. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on junk

Nglish: Translation of junk for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about junk

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