spunk
Grit and nerve
Spunk has two main meanings united by the idea of vital essence.
The older sense is courage, spirit, or determination: She showed real spunk standing up to them.
Someone with spunk is plucky and spirited.
In British slang, spunk is semen—the vital substance in a more literal sense.
The slang use has made the word awkward in American speech, where the innocent meaning still dominates.
Boldness before danger
- gutsEntrails or boldness
- boldnessFearless readiness to act
- pluckSpirit or yank
- gritDetermination or abrasive particles
mettle · nerve · backbone · moxie · gumption · chutzpah · audacity · daring
Active physical strength
pep · liveliness · vivacity · animation · enthusiasm · exuberance · dynamism · effervescence
bravery
Boldness before danger
grit · mettle · nerve · backbone · moxie · gumption · chutzpah · audacity · daring · fearlessness
vigor
Active physical strength
zest · pep · liveliness · vivacity · animation · enthusiasm · exuberance · dynamism · effervescence · sparkle
kindling
Material for starting fires
spark · ember · ignition · combustion
cum
With, in Latin
- resilienceresilience, grit, bounce back, bouncing back, robustness
- couragebravery, resilience, fearlessness, boldness, courage
- fire startersmatch, matches, lighter, lighters, matchsticks
- tenacitydetermined, persistence, persistent, perseverance, determination
- valorbravery, courage, gallantry, heroism, fearlessness
- energizerscoffee, caffeine, energy drinks, energy drink, espresso
spunkcowardice
Absence of bravery
timidity · spinelessness · cravenness · pusillanimity · faintheartedness
spunkspiritlessness
Absence of animation or vigor
lifelessness · apathy · listlessness · lethargy · passivity