wonk

noun

ˈwäŋk How to pronounce wonk (audio)
Definition of wonknext
as in nerd
a person slavishly devoted to intellectual or academic pursuits the candidate has an army of policy wonks ready to write for him a position paper on virtually any issue

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of wonk Stearns’ reputation is that of a wonk. — Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 22 Apr. 2026 In the hours after splashdown, space wonks noticed a large, unusual-looking white patch on the otherwise dark and scorched heat shield. — Denise Chow, NBC news, 14 Apr. 2026 This isn't a command-line interface just for hardcore wonks, either. — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 13 Apr. 2026 Policy wonks and software engineers were turned away at the door of the conservative tech think tank Foundation for American Innovation’s reception on Monday evening, held at MAGA hot spot Butterworth’s. — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 30 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for wonk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wonk
  1. nerd
  2. geek
Noun
  • If that is not possible, be a nerd and tuck your long pants into your socks.
    — Carl R. Gold, Baltimore Sun, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Shane is an experienced deer-tracking dog handler, and Ryan is a data nerd by training and a diehard bowhunter.
    — Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of nerd
Noun
  • There’s a whole world of lagers out there that would make even the snobbiest beer geek do a double take—beers that have nothing in common with the watery brews that once defined the style for so many Americans.
    — Hudson Lindenberger, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Fortunately, Green’s film exists — and was not thrown into a little black hole by a bunch of accountants, never to be seen again — and can surely help cure any of the pain its backstory still inflicts on movie fans and Tunes geeks.
    — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of geek

Browse Nearby Words

wondrousness
wonk
wonks
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Cite this Entry

“Wonk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wonk. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

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