wack

¹ American  

[wak] / wæk /

Also whack

noun

1. an odd, irrational, or unconventional person; wacko.

2. a thing or things that are unsatisfactory, worthless, or of low quality.

   The show is mostly a lot of wack, with a couple of funny moments.

---

adjective

1. extremely bad or inferior.

   The song is great, but the video is really wack.

2. odd, irrational, or unconventional; wacky.

   I’m afraid the neighbors think we’re wack!

3. extremely good.

   The guys scarfed down those wack cookies you made, and they're asking for more.

wack ² American  

[wak] / wæk /

verb (used with or without object)

1. whack.

---

wack British  

/ wæk, ˈwækə /

noun

1. dialect friend; pal: used chiefly as a term of address

---

Etymology

Origin of wack

First recorded in 1935–40; perhaps back formation from wacky; popularized in 1986 from the anti-crack mural by the U.S. pop artist Keith Haring (1958–90), which bore the slogan “Crack is wack”

Example Sentences

I’m assuming they were blended in well, which is good, because gummy candy in a milkshake kind of seems wack.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 10, 2024

“I’m not an election denier,” he said, adding, “I’m not this crazy tinfoil-hat conspiracy wack job.”

From Seattle Times • Sep. 15, 2023

But it’s pretty wack that they can’t temper their loathing for children enough to be kind to the sole member of the crew who is eagerly anticipating motherhood.

From Slate • Jan. 8, 2020

"So little mermaid play was cool... but uhm shaggy was too cool to at least wear claws or sumn? He the only one without a costume... that was wack on his part," another commented.

From Fox News • Nov. 6, 2019

“I mean, learning how to shoot was wack, but I still had a pretty good time, when I think about it.”

From "As Brave As You" by Jason Reynolds

Related Words

• character
• identity
• personality