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

Relevance

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

In other words, something changed, but the study can’t tell us whether those changes actually made participants’ guts healthier. — Ashley Lynch, Charlotte Observer, 6 Oct. 2026 Did anyone involved have the guts to tell him that this was a bad idea? — Manohla Dargis, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2026 In their new Apple series, Brothers, that infamous tale appears in the pilot when Holland Taylor, playing Ma Mac, drops the bomb on Harrelson, who doesn’t have the guts to tell McConaughey right away. — Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 24 Sep. 2026 McNeely’s riff shows a toe (flexed, as ever) hoisted from the ceiling, the rest of the figure an illegible mass of guts and bones. — Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 18 Sep. 2026 In 1997, John Desler, a former Ole Miss defensive back, and his wife, Leelee, bought the guts of the place from James Purvis, proprietor of Purvis Pool Hall and the town’s most renowned bookie. — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2026 But to me, the guts and the root of the whole thing is the writing. — Jewly Hight, NPR, 25 Aug. 2026 What kind of superhero show has the guts to kill off its lead character in the first episode? — Matt Minton, Variety, 17 Aug. 2026 This one is a teen slasher that will cover you with blood and guts at every turn. — Alaina Urquhart, PEOPLE, 11 Aug. 2026

Verb

Such incidental takings are the most common way that endangered animals die, the NYT reported, so advocates fear the move largely guts the ESA. — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 22 Sep. 2026 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 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

As Earth faces an overwhelming alien threat, these young aviators are thrown into relentless combat that tests their loyalty, courage and faith in one another.

— Leo Barraclough, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026
One woman writing for Hers described spending about an hour working up the courage for her first weight-loss shot, only to find the thin needle barely hurt.

— Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of courage

Verb

The self-sanitizing pod is equipped with a power-washing system that cleans and disinfects the toilet and the floor for a few minutes after each use.

— Marissa Sulek, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026
The all-in-one dock cleans the spinning dual mops with hot water, dries them with warm air to prevent musty smells, and automatically drains and refills the water tank.

— Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of cleans

Noun

His bravery and commitment deserve mountains of reverence, of course.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 Oct. 2026
Machchhar’s actions have received widespread praise from political leaders, passengers who were onboard, those who know him as well as strangers who gathered in his home town to celebrate his bravery.

— Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of bravery

Noun

But more importantly — and what comes with age — is having the fortitude not to follow them.

— Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 19 Sep. 2026
That mental fortitude stood out to Green during a minor-league game in which Voit started 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.

— Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of fortitude

Verb

Leaping around in time, Gilroy draws us into Alex’s world with an effervescent wink at the badness of his behavior.

— Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 3 Oct. 2026
Double Standard, the ground-floor bar, is a go-to for late-night drinks and a hip crowd, while the rooftop draws a steady stream of creatives with its panoramic cityscapes and lighthearted cocktails (in keeping with its stateside locations).

— Katharine Sohn, Architectural Digest, 2 Oct. 2026