wonky
1 Americanadjective
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(of a person) shaky, groggy, or unsteady.
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not exactly straight or balanced; off-kilter.
a wonky chair with an uneven leg.
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not working properly; faulty; unreliable.
Something went wonky with my computer.
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That's just odd logic and wonky reasoning.
adjective
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stupid; boring; unattractive.
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relating to, appealing to, or characteristic of a wonk; concerned with minute details of a topic or issue.
a wonky bureaucrat.
adjective
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shaky or unsteady
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not in correct alignment; askew
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liable to break down or develop a fault
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of wonky1
First recorded in 1915–20; perhaps variant of dialectal wanky, equivalent to wank(le) ( Middle English wankel, Old English wancol; see wench) + -y 1
Origin of wonky2
First recorded in 1975–80; wonk ( def. ) + -y 1 ( def. )
Explanation
Things that are wonky are a little bit crooked or wobbly — a table that isn't balanced right, a nose that's a bit out of place. Something that’s wonky isn’t necessarily broken; it’s just slightly “off.” Wonky can also describe something that isn't working correctly, such as an old TV set that shows only one channel, or maybe even your brain after you’ve just pulled an all-nighter. Important: Don't confuse wonky with wonk. A wonk is an extremely studious person, and usually wonks are very far from being wonky (except perhaps in terms of their social skills).
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:
And he says leave that lip liner until last - it'll just "highlight how wonky your drawing skills are".
From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026
In normal times, in a normal Federal Communications Commission, Anna M. Gomez’s job might be described as wonky.
From Slate ● Jun. 2, 2026
But hands down, I prefer my one bathroom in a hotel, wonky showers, dim lighting and all.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 6, 2026
Sorting through wonky government websites in a moment of crisis is not a pleasant undertaking, so it’s best to begin exploring options before the end approaches, if you can.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 25, 2026
The shopping cart had a wonky wheel that made a stuttering noise.
From "Raymie Nightingale" by Kate DiCamillo
That means shoppers could start seeing smaller, wonkier or oddly coloured veg on the shelves in the coming weeks - and sellers and growers say it's still good to eat.
From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026
Medical care insurance is also higher, though it is measured in inflation in a wonkier way, essentially by taking a look at an insurance company’s earnings after it has paid out benefits.
From New York Times ● Mar. 12, 2024
On the wonkier side, bond prices have also been falling in tandem with stock prices more often than they used to.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 23, 2023
That’s not quite the case for Gothard or Hoyler, who both pointed to far wonkier issues — school funding, mental health, learning loss — as their main priorities.
From Washington Post ● Nov. 5, 2022
Over at Ankler, Rushfield’s posts tend to be wonkier, more analytical but with bite.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 2, 2022
The famed 18th Century venue in Himley, near Dudley, was known as "Britain's wonkiest pub" due to its distinctive tilt.
From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2025
The tavern, known as “Britain’s wonkiest pub” for its slanting walls and floors, was sold to a private developer in July 2023.
From New York Times ● Feb. 27, 2024
Once known as "Britain's wonkiest" inn, the pub was gutted in the blaze on 5 August and then suddenly demolished two days later.
From BBC ● Nov. 11, 2023
Once known as "Britain's wonkiest" inn, it set alight on 5 August, and was then demolished less than 48 hours later.
From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2023
The pub, once Britain's "wonkiest", was sold by Marston's last month.
From BBC ● Aug. 9, 2023
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
