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Synonyms

junky

1 American  
[juhng-kee] / ˈdʒʌŋ ki /

adjective

junkier, junkiest
  1. of the nature of junk; trashy.


junky 2 American  
[juhng-kee] / ˈdʒʌŋ ki /

noun

  • junkies
    plural
  1. junkie.


Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms


Etymology

Origin of junky1

First recorded in 1945–50; junk 1 + -y 2

Origin of junky2

junk 3 + -y 2


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

"In other words, junky processing may harm your gut in ways that ripple up to your brain."

From Science Daily ● Oct. 1, 2026

Through October, the junky small-company category rallied by 256% versus just 29% for those with quality characteristics.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 19, 2026

It included absurd videos, off-kilter advertising images, cheesy propaganda, fake news that looks pretty real, junky AI-written books, “workslop” reports that waste coworkers’ time — and lots of talking cats.

From Salon ● Jan. 13, 2026

Even the artificial-intelligence trade, which has been producing profits, may be more junky than it seems.

From Barron's ● Oct. 23, 2025

“I have no idea. I can’t read it. But a lot of her jobs are junky self-help books that she complains about. She’s more of a science fiction fan.”

From "Goodbye Stranger" by Rebecca Stead

So it’s time for prognosticators, observers, gadflies and political junkies to share their predictions.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 28, 2026

But Tuesday’s primary could the test the patience of even the most-knowing political junkies as some of the highest profile races, including California governor and L.A. mayor, remain tight.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 2, 2026

Soon the world’s media, true-crime junkies and more would descend on her courthouse.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 24, 2026

Everything from diabetes to schizophrenia, he claims, is caused by Americans being junk food junkies.

From Salon ● May 18, 2026

But the notion that climbers are merely adrenaline junkies chasing a righteous fix is a fallacy, at least in the case of Everest.

From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer

So, yes, junk food is even junkier than previously thought.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 20, 2026

Momentarily terrifying, they encouraged investors to “buy the dip” quickly and recklessly—the junkier the stocks, the better.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 17, 2025

The director Robert Schwentke, whose credits include “Flightplan” and junkier diversions like “R.I.P.D.,” takes on this franchise with generic competence.

From New York Times ● Mar. 19, 2015

He lays down simplistic but steady disco drumming, beautifully squelchy old synthesizer tones and a junkier version of the guitar-scratching perfected by James Brown’s old guitarist, Jimmy Nolen.

From New York Times ● May 16, 2010

Some are just slightly less junkier version of sugar-loaded snacks, but others are worth trying.

From Time Magazine Archive

The makes, the models, the mufflers that could furnish even the junkiest car with an impressive sound — how every detail felt like a secret he was revealing just to me, his only child.

From Salon ● Jul. 21, 2024

“It’s the escalating hype surrounding the release of the junkiest stuff, the willingness of the press to play along, the lust to be ‘No. 1 in America’ on thousands of screens.”

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 9, 2022

“Jonathan Demme is the American cinema’s king of amusing artifacts: blinding bric-a-brac, the junkiest of jewelry, costumes so frightening they take your breath away,” Ms. Maslin wrote.

From New York Times ● Apr. 26, 2017

Reynolds is an ingratiating actor who, because he's fun to watch, can save even the junkiest movie.

From Time Magazine Archive

It matches the yield on all but the junkiest junk bonds and, if you're careful, entails a lot less risk.

From Time Magazine Archive

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