spunk
[noun]
Synonyms: fortitude, backbone, grit, guts, intestinal fortitude, moxie, nerve, sand, courage, cojones, dauntlessness, heart, mettle, pluck, resolution, spirit

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Antonyms: funk
Related Idioms: clear (or true) grit
Related Words: bulldoggedness, doggedness

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

spunk /spʌŋk/ noun [uncountable] informal
[Date: 1700-1800; Origin: Probably from spunk 'spark' (16-19 centuries), from Scottish Gaelic spong 'sponge, material for lighting fires', from Latin spongia; ⇒ sponge¹]

1. especially American English courage:
She had a lot of spunk.

2. British English not polite semen

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲