hunker

[huhng-ker] / ˈhʌŋ kər /

VERB

crouch

Synonyms

STRONG

bend bow cower dip duck grovel huddle hunch kneel quail squat stoop wince

WEAK

bend down hunker down quat scrooch down

Antonyms

STRONG

face meet straighten

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.

Financially, the sudden volatility made investors hunker down and reduce their debts.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 8, 2026

Determined to survive, Iran might initially hunker down or seek to draw out any conflict.

From Barron's • Feb. 28, 2026

Epstein replied, “Nothing to do during a storm, but hunker down, and wait until it blows over.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 8, 2026

"We'll get through it and we'll hunker through it and it'll be fine."

From BBC • Jan. 5, 2026

She'd hunker down with me and read one of the stories with tough words in it.

From "The Belles" by Dhonielle Clayton