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
funks 1 of 2
noun
as in cowards
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
Relevance
- cowards
- cravens
- poltroons
- chickens
- sissies
- dastards
- curs
- defeatists
- sneaks
- quitters
- pussies
- cream puffs
- snakes
- milquetoasts
- weaklings
- wimps
- recreants
- caitiffs
- ostriches
- pushovers
- scaramouches
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- stalwarts
- heroes
- daredevils
- valiants
funks
2 of 2verb
as in ducks
Synonyms & Similar Words
- ducks
- shakes
- avoids
- escapes
- shuns
- dodges
- eludes
- evades
- eschews
- sidesteps
- shirks
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- fronts
- faces
- breasts
- braves
- dares
- confronts
- brazens
- defies
- outfaces
- beards
- outbraves
- faces up (to)
- affronts
- basis rate
- basis weight
- basiscopic
- basisternum
- basistyle
- basitarsus
- basitemporal
- bask
- bask in the glory
- bask in the reflected glory
- basked
- Baskerville
- basket
- basket ash
- basket capital
- basket case
- basket cases
- basket catch
- basket chair
- basket clam
- basket cloth
- basket dance
- basket fern
- basket flower
- basket grass