wonky

[ wong-kee ]

/ ˈwɒŋ ki /

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adjective, won·ki·er, won·ki·est.Slang.

(of a person) shaky, groggy, or unsteady.

not exactly straight or balanced; off-kilter: a wonky chair with an uneven leg.

not working properly; faulty; unreliable: Something went wonky with my computer.

crazy; mad: That's just odd logic and wonky reasoning.

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SHALL WE PLAY A "SHALL" VS. "SHOULD" CHALLENGE?

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Question 1 of 6

Which form is used to state an obligation or duty someone has?

shall

should

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Also won·kish

[wong-kish]. /ˈwɒŋ kɪʃ/.

Origin of wonky

First recorded in 1915–20; perhaps variant of dialectal wanky, equivalent to wank(le) (Middle English wankel, Old English wancol; see wench) + -y¹

Words nearby wonky

wonga, wonga-wonga, Wŏnju, wonk, wonkish, wonky, wonna, Wŏnsan, wont, wonted, won't hear of

Other definitions for wonky (2 of 2)

wonky²

[ wong-kee ]

/ ˈwɒŋ ki /

adjective won·ki·er, won·ki·est.Slang.

stupid; boring; unattractive.

relating to, appealing to, or characteristic of a wonk; concerned with minute details of a topic or issue: a wonky bureaucrat.

Also won·kish

[wong-kish]. /ˈwɒŋ kɪʃ/.

Origin of wonky

First recorded in 1975–80; wonk + -y¹

OTHER WORDS FROM wonky

won·ki·ness, noun

How to use wonky in a sentence

All-star voting is up 70 percent compared with 2020, according to people with knowledge of the situation, but that rush of fan voting hasn’t produced any wonky results.
Kevin Durant and LeBron James lead first round of NBA All-Star voting|Ben Golliver|February 4, 2021|Washington Post
You don’t have to worry about pairing and wonky Bluetooth connections.
Best computer speakers: Make music, video chats, and more a whole lot clearer|Jeremy Helligar|January 12, 2021|Popular-Science
Schedules in the traditional sense are increasingly a thing of the past and are instead often dictated by algorithms, which can result in wonky hours, with employees sometimes given two hours of work one day and eight the next.
A call to revolutionize the workplace — by working less|Sheila McClear|December 18, 2020|Washington Post
The cookies didn’t come out perfectly round, which made for a few wonky sandwiches, with caramel spilling out from the sides.
The Best Holiday Cookie Recipes, According to Eater Editors|Meghan McCarron|November 30, 2020|Eater

For example, some of these might sound pretty good but the battery-life might be lacking or the fit might be super comfortable but other smart features like touch-control could be wonky.
Best wireless headphones: Five things to consider|Carsen Joenk|November 25, 2020|Popular-Science
Much ink has been spilled over the wonky science and plot contrivances of Interstellar.
‘Interstellar’ Is Wildly Ambitious, Very Flawed, and Absolutely Worth Seeing|Marlow Stern|November 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Justin Bieber This wonky first pitch offers further proof that Justin Bieber struggles with the definition of a straight line.
50 Cent and the Worst Celebrity First Pitches|Amy Zimmerman|May 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The store became famous for “wonky carrots”—the type often rejected by supermarkets on aesthetic grounds.
Prince Charles's Chickens Killed By Foxes!|Tom Sykes|May 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
According to the latest news in aviation, the world of air travel has gone a little wonky.
Plane-Related Incidents Reach New Level of Weird|Rachel Hochhauser|April 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This could all change if Maryland decides to veer left and elect Heather Mizeur, a wonky, pro-pot married lesbian, as governor.
Could a Pro-Pot Lesbian Become the Next Governor of Maryland?|Jim Newell|March 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He straightened his back more, making it pop and gave her his devilish grin, the one where his wonky eyebrow went up and down.
Makers|Cory Doctorow

British Dictionary definitions for wonky

wonky

/ (ˈwɒŋkɪ) /

adjective -kier or -kiest British informal

shaky or unsteady

not in correct alignment; askew

liable to break down or develop a fault

Word Origin for wonky

C20: variant of dialect wanky, from Old English wancol

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

wonky

Origin of wonky

Words nearby wonky

Other definitions for wonky (2 of 2)

Origin of wonky

OTHER WORDS FROM wonky

Words related to wonky

How to use wonky in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for wonky

Word Origin for wonky