wonky

[ wong-kee ]

/ ˈwɒŋ ki /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR wonky ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective, won·ki·er, won·ki·est.

British Slang.

shaky, groggy, or unsteady.
unreliable; not trustworthy.

Slang. stupid; boring; unattractive.

Words nearby wonky

wonderwork, wondrous, wonga, wonga-wonga, wonk, wonky, wonna, wont, wonted, woo, woo-hoo

Origin of wonky

1920–25; perhaps variant of dial. wanky, equivalent to wank(le) (Middle English wankel, Old English wancol; see wench) + -y¹; def. 1 probably represents a different word (see wonk)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Examples from the Web for wonky

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
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He tends toward the wonky, goes heavy on historical references, and likes to quote folks like Montesquieu.
On CPAC Day 2, the Libertarian Wing Takes Over|Michelle Cottle|March 8, 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

adjective, won·ki·er, won·ki·est.

Words related to wonky

Words nearby wonky

Origin of wonky

Examples from the Web for wonky

British Dictionary definitions for wonky

adjective -kier or -kiest British informal

Word Origin for wonky