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dorky

American  
[dawr-kee] / ˈdɔr ki /

adjective

Slang.
dorkier, dorkiest
  1. stupid, inept, or unfashionable.


Etymology

Origin of dorky

dork + -y 1


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:

While Mr. Richman’s vocals retained punk’s nasal, monochromatic tone, his songs were dorky and witty, channeling Buddy Holly, Gene Vincent and Freddie and the Dreamers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026

I didn’t even mind the dorky dancing in front of taxi cabs during Wednesday night’s ridiculous Netflix Yankees-Giants opener.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 26, 2026

"I had met with a number of young actors who thought Bateman was cool. No, no, no, he's dorky."

From Salon ● Apr. 14, 2025

If during past summers these people seemed dorky or extreme, insistent on bringing an indoor comfort outdoors, now I wanted to be one of them.

From Slate ● Aug. 27, 2024

It was so dorky I had to look away.

From "Maybe He Just Likes You" by Barbara Dee

Is there anything dorkier and more boringly domestic than an allowance?

From Slate ● Mar. 7, 2018

The teacher was flummoxed until she saw a flood of Rainbow Loom jewelry pour out of a shy kid’s backpack: He and his dorkier classmates were buying bracelets off the student royalty.

From Slate ● Dec. 19, 2013

Pitch "One Direction for adolescent girls who prefer their guys a little on the dorkier side" is what Atlantic magazine said.

From The Guardian ● Apr. 6, 2013

His newfound flamboyance is part and parcel of a charm offensive after years of being the dorkiest face of Silicon Valley, if not its most demonized figurehead.

From Slate ● Oct. 30, 2024

The best manifestation of this is in the relationship between two characters named Demetri and Eli, who start the series as the dorkiest of the dorks.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 18, 2021

Or we’d learn at the very least that this is the awkwardness that passes for seduction in the dorkiest Zip codes of the land.

From Washington Post ● Jul. 13, 2018

There was the time Tommy Mooney scored a winner for Watford at Anfield back in 1999, but only the dorkiest of narrative completists would place much significance on that.

From The Guardian ● Nov. 6, 2016

She always said the dorkiest things, but I never met a student who didn’t love her.

From "Winger" by Andrew Smith

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