Synonyms: courage, spirit, nerve, bottle [British, slang] More Synonyms of spunk
spunk in British English
(spʌŋk)
noun
1. informal
courage or spirit
2. British a vulgar slang word for semen
3.
touchwood or tinder, esp originally made from various spongy types of fungus
4. Australian and New Zealand informal
a person, esp male, who is sexually attractive
▶ USAGE The second sense of this word was formerly considered to be taboo, and it was labelledas such in older editions of Collins English Dictionary. However, it is now more acceptable in speech, although more conservative peoplemay object to its use
Derived forms
spunky (ˈspunky)
adjective
spunkily (ˈspunkily)
adverb
Word origin
C16 (in the sense: a spark): from Scottish Gaelic spong tinder, sponge, from Latin spongia sponge
spunk in American English
(spʌŋk)
noun
1.
a kind of wood or fungus that smolders when ignited; punk
2. Informal
courage; spirit
Word origin
Ir sponc, tinder, touchwood, sponge < L spongia, sponge
Synonyms of 'spunk'
courage, spirit, nerve, bottle
More Synonyms of spunk
(noun)
Definition
courage or spirit
(informal)
I admired her independence and her spunk.
Synonyms
courage
They do not have the courage to apologise for their actions.
spirit
She was a very brave girl and everyone admired her spirit.
nerve
I never got up enough nerve to tell him he was wrong.
If we keep our nerve, we might be able to bluff it out.
balls (taboo, slang)
bottle (British, slang)
Will anyone have the bottle to go through with it?
resolution
He implemented policy with resolution and single-mindedness.
guts (informal)
pluck
Cynics might sneer at him but you have to admire his pluck.
grit
He showed grit and determination in his fight back to health.
backbone
You might be taking drastic measures and you've got to have the backbone to do that.
toughness
mettle
It's the first real test of his mettle this season.
gumption (informal)
gameness
ballsiness (taboo, slang)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of backbone
Definition
strength of character
You might be taking drastic measures and you've got to have the backbone to do that.
Synonyms
strength of character,
will,
balls (taboo, slang),
character,
bottle (British, slang),
resolution,
resolve,
nerve,
daring,
courage,
determination,
guts,
pluck,
stamina,
grit,
bravery,
fortitude,
toughness,
tenacity,
willpower,
mettle,
boldness,
firmness,
spunk (informal),
fearlessness,
steadfastness,
moral fibre,
hardihood,
ballsiness (taboo, slang),
dauntlessness
in the sense of bottle
Definition
courage
Will anyone have the bottle to go through with it?
Synonyms
nerve,
will,
daring,
courage,
determination,
guts (informal),
face (informal),
balls (taboo, slang),
spirit,
resolution,
pluck,
grit,
bravery,
fortitude,
coolness,
mettle,
firmness,
spunk (informal),
fearlessness,
steadfastness,
intrepidity,
hardihood,
gameness,
ballsiness (taboo, slang)
in the sense of grit
Definition
courage and determination
He showed grit and determination in his fight back to health.
Synonyms
courage,
spirit,
resolution,
determination,
nerve,
guts (informal),
balls (vulgar, slang),
pluck,
backbone,
fortitude,
toughness,
tenacity,
perseverance,
mettle,
doggedness,
hardihood,
gameness
Nearby words of
spunk
spruce
spruce something or someone up
spry
spunk
spur
spurious
spurn
Synonyms of 'spunk'
spunk
Explore 'spunk' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of mettle
Definition
courage or spirit
It's the first real test of his mettle this season.
Synonyms
courage,
spirit,
resolution,
resolve,
life,
heart,
fire,
balls (taboo, slang),
bottle (British, slang),
nerve,
daring,
guts (informal),
pluck,
grit,
bravery,
fortitude,
vigour,
boldness,
gallantry,
ardour,
valour,
spunk (informal),
indomitability,
hardihood,
gameness
in the sense of nerve
Definition
bravery and determination
I never got up enough nerve to tell him he was wrong.If we keep our nerve, we might be able to bluff it out.
Synonyms
bravery,
courage,
spirit,
bottle (British, slang),
resolution,
daring,
determination,
guts (informal),
pluck,
grit,
fortitude,
vigour,
coolness,
balls (vulgar, slang),
mettle,
firmness,
spunk (informal),
fearlessness,
steadfastness,
intrepidity,
hardihood,
gameness,
ballsiness (taboo, slang),
will,
endurance
in the sense of pluck
Definition
courage
Cynics might sneer at him but you have to admire his pluck.
Synonyms
courage,
nerve,
heart,
spirit,
bottle (British, slang),
resolution,
determination,
guts (informal),
balls (taboo, slang),
grit,
bravery,
backbone,
mettle,
boldness,
spunk (informal),
intrepidity,
hardihood,
ballsiness (taboo, slang)
in the sense of resolution
Definition
firmness or determination
He implemented policy with resolution and single-mindedness.
Synonyms
determination,
energy,
purpose,
resolve,
courage,
dedication,
fortitude,
sincerity,
tenacity,
perseverance,
willpower,
boldness,
firmness,
staying power,
stubbornness,
constancy,
earnestness,
obstinacy,
steadfastness,
doggedness,
relentlessness,
resoluteness,
staunchness
in the sense of spirit
She was a very brave girl and everyone admired her spirit.