GUTS Synonyms: 113 Similar and Opposite Words

guts 1 of 2

noun

plural of gut

as in inside(s)

the internal organs of the body the student dissected the frog and looked at its guts with a mixture of fascination and disgust

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in courage

strength of mind to carry on in spite of danger it took a lot of guts to rush into that burning building and save her cat

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in grit

the strength of mind that enables a person to endure pain or hardship had the guts to keep running the race even though she felt like quitting

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

guts

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of gut

as in cleans

to take the internal organs out of you'll need to gut the fish and wash it out before you can cook it

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of guts

Noun

That took some guts, even though that’s what everybody else always does. — Devon Ivie, Vulture, 6 Aug. 2026 Explosive playmakers, a veteran offensive line and the guts of a good defense will support them. — Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026 Their gonads are wrapped around their guts, just in front of a heart pumping transparent blood that doesn’t clot. — Literary Hub, 29 July 2026 Mox shoved Rick Knox, who still didn’t have the guts or aptitude to call for a disqualification. — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026 Nu Jazz put the effort in to really get underneath all these sounds, ripping out their guts and figuring out how to jam with the entrails. — Sam Goldner, Pitchfork, 23 July 2026 The first was a controversial climb-back over Egypt from two goals down; the second, a lightning strike of guts and glory in the final minutes to beat England 2-1 and book a spot in the World Cup final. — Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 16 July 2026 Madly sentient guts spill from the sitter’s back in swollen rivulets. — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 15 July 2026 This summer's multistate Cyclospora outbreak has a lot of people suddenly paying closer attention to their guts. — Angela Haupt, Time, 15 July 2026

Verb

When the Supreme Court guts federal voting protections, every state has to decide whether to fill that void or exploit it. — Anthony G. Brown, Baltimore Sun, 26 June 2026 What most of us know is a relationship that goes sour, and the one that guts you the most is a love that goes wrong. — Stuart Miller, Oc Register, 7 May 2026 The only realistic threat to Clyburn’s winning reelection would be if the conservative Supreme Court guts the Voting Rights Act and South Carolina Republicans redraw the state’s congressional districts before the fall elections. — Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 12 Mar. 2026 And if the Supreme Court makes an early enough ruling that guts the Voting Rights Act, that could allow a slew of Southern states to redraw their maps before 2026 as well. — Caroline Vakil, The Hill, 3 Dec. 2025 The government’s lawyers argued the ruling effectively guts a statute aimed at reducing gun violence by preventing unlawful drug users from wielding firearms. — Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 20 Oct. 2025 Her death guts Maggie, but also brings her and Jackson, her mother’s surgeon, closer. — Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2025 Then the company guts what's left in the middle. — ArsTechnica, 29 Sep. 2025 Seagulls circle low as Kyan Walker bones and guts the daily catch, which currently includes black cod and halibut. — John King, San Francisco Chronicle, 5 Sep. 2023

Recent Examples of Synonyms for guts

Noun

None of this would exist without the ones who came before us, that first generation that had the courage to leave everything behind.

— Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 12 Aug. 2026
Leadership roles or intimidating pivots that require you to have courage are no exception.

— Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of courage

Noun

But what her mum did have was grit, raising her children alone and working three jobs to keep ponies in their lives.

— Gemma Redrup, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
That Crowley came from behind to win was a testament to Evers’ grit and determination to keep the nomination from Hong, whom Evers said was unlikely to win in November, and to how terrible of a campaigner Hong turned out to be in the home stretch.

— The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of grit

Noun

Kouvin missed the cut at the John Deere Classic but has since shown fortitude and an incredible golf game, winning the 3M Open and placing T-10 at the ISCO Championship and T-31 at the Rocket Mortgage Classic.

— Tim Corlett, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026
But, deciding to still move forward with their round of golf knowing the boss would find out at some point took fortitude.

— Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of fortitude

Verb

It was later amended to apply to 3,000 capacity or smaller venues, which exempted larger arenas and stadiums where many fans have felt the weight of rising ticket costs and where much of the secondary reselling market draws activity.

— Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 14 Aug. 2026
Hoodoo draws heavily on older African religious practices introduced to North America through the transatlantic slave trade from the 16th to the 19th century.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of draws

Noun

And yet, there the fans were, rally caps on, ready to believe in another mighty comeback—to read heroism into a story that could also be told, perhaps more accurately, in terms of swing decisions and contact points.

— Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2026
This reflects that sustainable organizations are built around core values and people who embody them consistently, not around individual heroism.

— Mena Mirhom, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of heroism

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“Guts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/guts. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of guts

noun

verb

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