as in dumb
not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily
kept getting typecast as the hero's dorky sidekick
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Recent Examples of dorky
Still, the actors are game, and that’s half the battle — even though the film’s positing Miles Teller as the dorky beta to Callum Turner’s hunky alpha is somewhat undone by the fact that the two actors don’t look all that different from each other.
—
Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 26 Nov. 2025
Despite the efforts of avid players, The Dude, and assorted poets, bowling in America still ends up with a broadly dorky reputation.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 24 Sep. 2025
Geek Squad Not too long ago, the analytics department was the domain of the dorky nerds of the NFL.
—Dianna Russini, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025
Phoenix is cast against type as the dorky kid.
—Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dorky
Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 26 Nov. 2025
Despite the efforts of avid players, The Dude, and assorted poets, bowling in America still ends up with a broadly dorky reputation.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 24 Sep. 2025
Geek Squad Not too long ago, the analytics department was the domain of the dorky nerds of the NFL.
—Dianna Russini, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025
Phoenix is cast against type as the dorky kid.
—Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dorky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dorky
Adjective
-
This is a dumb move by both parties.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
22 Mar. 2026
-
Amazon is reportedly considering a dumb phone design to make this an additional device people would use alongside their typical Android phone or iPhone, rather than competing to become their main handset.—
James Peckham,
PC Magazine,
20 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Of all the live-action shows made by Adult Swim, Three Busy Debras is the most cartoonish; its world is as elastic and stupid as any Chuck Jones Looney Tunes joint.—
Eric Vilas-Boas,
Vulture,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Anyone who says anything else is stupid or lying.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
This chaged profile results in improved satiety and a slower blood sugar spike.—
Jahnavi Rapaka,
Vogue,
21 Mar. 2026
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That alone would create a challenging year for water managers, who rely on slow and steady snowmelt to feed streams, rivers and reservoirs and meet spring and summer demand for irrigation and drinking water.—
Mira Rojanasakul,
New York Times,
21 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The rooms Hotel Thaynes has 128 guest rooms, including six king suites, each designed for simple mountain stays with subtle pops of colors.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
19 Mar. 2026
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Such a vote — which is bound to fail but would put senators on the record — differs from using a simple majority to change the Senate rules, a vote a senator could force after an unsuccessful vote to break a filibuster.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Videos and photos from the scene showed thick gray smoke billowing from the complex and some workers jumping from a building belonging to Anjun Industrial.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
22 Mar. 2026
-
In the hands of a sandwich master, these things can come from elsewhere—in the Vegitalian, thin slabs of fresh mozzarella and, of all things, a thick layer of roasted sweet-potato slices.—
Helen Rosner,
New Yorker,
22 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dorky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dorky. Accessed 24 Mar. 2026.
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