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
But the realization that satellites can interfere with galactic observations also presents a challenge and adds to the list of threats posed by space junk. —Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 30 June 2025 Some climate satellites are in danger of colliding with space junk. —Tom Brown, Space.com, 28 June 2025
Verb
That would be a drastic shift, but Trump has shown a willingness to junk political orthodoxy, as this week’s decision to lift sanctions on Syria and meet Ahmed el-Sharaa showed. —J. Tedford Tyler, Time, 17 May 2025 The local hockey team made every move this season to win a Stanley Cup, from junking its goalies to shipping out a star to overhauling the entire middle of the ice. —Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 14 Apr. 2025 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
  • Slice and prep the vegetables and cheese Wash all fresh ingredients.
    — Shivani Vora, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025
  • The items will feature their traditional ingredients – cheese, egg, Canadian bacon or sausage and a buttered English muffin, topped with Spicy Pepper Sauce, according to a news release from McDonald's.
    — Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 8 July 2025
Definition of cheese
Noun
  • Wasps are also scavengers, and they can often be found flying around garbage bins looking for their next meal.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 5 July 2025
  • Folsom 4th of July garbage schedule For those living in Folsom, trash and waste pickup will continue as scheduled, according to the city’s website.
    — Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado Updated July 2, Sacbee.com, 2 July 2025
Definition of garbage
Verb
  • The bout of storms comes after torrential rainfall Tuesday night dumped nearly 5.5 inches of rain within 90 minutes, prompting reports of flooding in basements and viaducts on the city’s West Side.
    — Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2025
  • The sand, pre-washed and compacted upon arrival, was dumped into an 18-inch wooden frame, with elements such as hospitality added to help remove debris from the air.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2025
Definition of dump
Noun
  • North Korea has responded to previous balloon campaigns with fiery rhetoric and other shows of anger, and last year the country launched its own balloons across the border, dumping rubbish on various South Korean sites, including the presidential compound.
    — Hyung-Jin Kim, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2025
  • They were were found beneath a pile of rubbish heaped just inside her front door, according to a police report released Wednesday.
    — Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 19 June 2025
Definition of rubbish
Noun
  • The self-emptying autowash dock can hold up to 74 days of auto-emptying vacuum debris and four weeks of mopping and pad washing.
    — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 July 2025
  • Some will examine debris piles as they're dismantled by excavators and skid steers.
    — Greg Allen, NPR, 9 July 2025
Definition of debris
Verb
  • Off flavor: If the pineapple tastes sour or fizzy, discard it.
    — Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 13 July 2025
  • When the markets washed out in April, these CEFs were discarded by their vanilla dividend owners.
    — Brett Owens, Forbes.com, 13 July 2025
Definition of discard
Noun
  • Infected debris should be disposed of in the trash, never added to the compost pile.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 12 July 2025
  • Leftover Paint If there are half-empty cans of leftover paint sitting on your garage shelves, avoid throwing them in the trash.
    — Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 July 2025
Definition of trash
Noun
  • Multiple attachments also come with your purchase (a crevice tool and a pet multi tool), which help to tackle dust in hard-to-reach areas in your home.
    — Izzy Baskette, People.com, 5 July 2025
  • Wildfires, blowing dust and ozone are all sources of dangerous air pollution that can trigger breathing difficulties and other health issues.
    — Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 July 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 18 Jul. 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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