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
The dorky, ScreenLife-adjacent technology introduced into the movie (which also includes oversized and dramatically embossed text messages emblazoned across the screen that evoke more sophisticated Word Art) is a little narratively clunky and contrived.
—
Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 10 Mar. 2025
While those early performances cemented his status as the typical dorky average-Joe teen, Hall evolved into a versatile actor who has played heroes, villains, and everything in between.
—Alison Weinflash, Rolling Stone, 19 Feb. 2025
Admittedly, their dorky little fist bump is kind of cute.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2025
With the success of Nobody Wants This, Adam Brody has yet again won the hearts of viewers with his portrayal of an affable, slightly dorky sweetheart, an example of typecasting done right.
—Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 6 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dorky
Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 10 Mar. 2025
While those early performances cemented his status as the typical dorky average-Joe teen, Hall evolved into a versatile actor who has played heroes, villains, and everything in between.
—Alison Weinflash, Rolling Stone, 19 Feb. 2025
Admittedly, their dorky little fist bump is kind of cute.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2025
With the success of Nobody Wants This, Adam Brody has yet again won the hearts of viewers with his portrayal of an affable, slightly dorky sweetheart, an example of typecasting done right.
—Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 6 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dorky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dorky
Adjective
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Ratajkowski has been fighting the stereotype of the dumb model from the beginning of her career.—
Daniel Jackson,
Allure,
18 July 2017
-
Ninety nine percent of all NFL players are explicitly not dumb.—
Andy Benoit,
The MMQB,
10 July 2017
Adjective
-
Mexican men were dismissed as violent Panchos and stupid Pedros.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
24 June 2025
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There’s more stupid romance around harder substances but few chemicals are more hazardous to ambition than THC.—
Benjamin Hale
June 23,
Literary Hub,
23 June 2025
Adjective
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Juicy, tender ribs are hard to beat, and cooking them low and slow is the key to achieving that irresistible fall-off-the-bone texture and deep, savory flavor.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
23 June 2025
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The music is, for the most part, quiet and slow, often hovering at the edge of silence.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
23 June 2025
Adjective
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The simplest ideas in mathematics can also be the most perplexing.—
Leila Sloman,
Wired News,
29 June 2025
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Start your day like a pro with simple morning cleaning habits that keep your home feeling fresh, organized, and under control.—
Quincy Bulin,
Southern Living,
28 June 2025
Adjective
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As thick clouds billowed out of Eyjafjallajökull, the skies over the North Atlantic — one of the world’s busiest aviation routes — fell silent, with air traffic dropping to levels that wouldn’t be seen again until the Covid pandemic a decade later.—
Brad Lendon,
CNN Money,
21 June 2025
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Simply lather a thick coating of petroleum jelly onto the scratch.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
21 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dorky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dorky. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
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