funk
1 of 4noun (1)
ˈfəŋk 
: a strong offensive smell
funk
2 of 4verb
funked; funking; funks
intransitive verb
: to become frightened and shrink back
transitive verb
1
: to be afraid of : dread
2
: to shrink from undertaking or facing
funk
3 of 4noun (2)
1
a
: a state of paralyzing fear
b
: a depressed state of mind
2
: one that funks : coward
3
: slump sense 1
an economic funk
the team went into a funk
funk
4 of 4noun (3)
1
: music that combines elements of rhythm and blues and soul music and that is characterized by a percussive vocal style, static harmonies, and a strong bass line with heavy downbeats
2
: the quality or state of being funky
jeans … have lost much of their funk
Tom Wolfe
Tom Wolfe
Synonyms
Noun (1)
- reek
- stench
- stink
Noun (2)
- chicken
- coward
- craven
- cur
- dastard
- poltroon
- recreant
- sissy
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
probably ultimately from French dialect (Picard) funquer to give off smoke
Noun (2)
perhaps from obsolete Dutch dialect (Flanders) fonck
Noun (3)
back-formation from funky entry 1
First Known Use
Noun (1)
1606, in the meaning defined above
Verb
circa 1746, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense
Noun (2)
1743, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Noun (3)
1970, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing funk
Kids Definition
funk
noun
ˈfəŋk
: a sad or worried state
Bad luck left him in a funk.
Biographical Definition
Funk 1 of 2
biographical name (1)
ˈfu̇ŋk ˈfəŋk
ˈfəŋk Casimir 1884–1967 American (Polish-born) biochemist
Funk
2 of 2biographical name (2)
ˈfəŋk
Isaac Kauffman 1839–1912 American editor and publisher
funk 1 of 3
noun (1)
as in stench
a strong unpleasant smell the overpowering funk of rotten meat emanated from the garbage bin Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- stench
- stink
- reek
- badness
- filth
- mustiness
- foulness
- rankness
- staleness
- dirtiness
- nastiness
- scent
- fustiness
- acridness
- fetidness
- vileness
- malodorousness
- rancidity
- emission
- redolence
- dirt
- effluvium
- odorousness
- filthiness
- odor
- effluvia
- sniff
- odoriferousness
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- sweetness
- aroma
- perfume
- fragrance
- spiciness
- lusciousness
- floweriness
- savoriness
- bouquet
- ambrosia
funk
2 of 3noun (2)
as in chicken
a person who shows a shameful lack of courage in the face of danger he may be a strong, athletic guy, but he's a real funk when it comes to donating blood Synonyms & Similar Words
- chicken
- coward
- craven
- sissy
- snake
- poltroon
- cur
- dastard
- defeatist
- cream puff
- pussy
- wimp
- milquetoast
- quitter
- recreant
- weakling
- sneak
- pushover
- ostrich
- caitiff
- scaramouche
- scaramouch
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- hero
- stalwart
- valiant
- daredevil
funk
3 of 3verb
as in to duck
Synonyms & Similar Words
- duck
- shake
- avoid
- shun
- escape
- dodge
- evade
- eschew
- shirk
- elude
- sidestep
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- beard
- breast
- face
- brazen
- confront
- front
- dare
- brave
- defy
- face up (to)
- affront
- outbrave
- outface