dorky

adjective

ˈdȯr-kē How to pronounce dorky (audio)
dorkier; dorkiest
Synonyms of dorkynext
slang
: foolishly stupid : clueless
dorkiness noun

Synonyms of dorky

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Examples of dorky in a Sentence

she's always being embarrassed by her dorky cousins
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Most sweatpants are a little too low-effort for my liking, and my skin-tight leggings look a little dorky with compression socks. — Kelsey Mulvey, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Aug. 2026 Back when Pitchfork could make or break bands, the website championed the London outfit, propelling the unlikely quintet from dorky purveyors of melodic dance songs to champions of the painfully cool. — David Harris, SPIN, 21 July 2026 An endearingly dorky Calam Lynch, an appealingly sturdy Cathy Tyson and a playful Savannah Steyn round out the core cast as members of Judith’s support team. — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 14 July 2026 Lander, who became beloved by DSA members after helping Mamdani beat Cuomo, worked with the mayor’s ad team for a campaign that effectively turned them into a comedy duo — a dorky Jewish dad and a swaggering Muslim mayor, both critical of the Israeli government. — David Weigel, semafor.com, 23 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for dorky

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1969, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dorky was circa 1969

Rhymes for dorky

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Browse Nearby Words

Dorking
dorky
dorlach
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Cite this Entry

“Dorky.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dorky. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

dorky

adjective
ˈdȯr-kē How to pronounce dorky (audio)
dorkier; dorkiest
slang
: foolishly stupid
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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