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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dorky
Every character has an adorable quirk or two, or at minimum owns a dorky T-shirt with a periodic table joke or a cartoon cat.
—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Mar. 2026
As any die-hard fan of Reagan-era cinema will tell you, the 1983 hit revolved around a Seattle computer nerd named David Lightman, played by Matthew Broderick as dorky but in a sorta cute, pre-Ferris Bueller way.
—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
2 Mar. 2026
Sporty sunglasses used to be dorky.
—
Amelia Arvesen,
Outside,
19 Feb. 2026
Disney and 20th Century’s bloody comedy-thriller, which follows a dorky, survival-savvy employee (Rachel McAdams) and her douchey younger boss (Dylan O’Brien) who become stranded together on a remote island, should add $9 million to $10 million by Sunday for a total domestic gross of $34 million.
—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
7 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dorky
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Mar. 2026
As any die-hard fan of Reagan-era cinema will tell you, the 1983 hit revolved around a Seattle computer nerd named David Lightman, played by Matthew Broderick as dorky but in a sorta cute, pre-Ferris Bueller way.
—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
2 Mar. 2026
Sporty sunglasses used to be dorky.
—
Amelia Arvesen,
Outside,
19 Feb. 2026
Disney and 20th Century’s bloody comedy-thriller, which follows a dorky, survival-savvy employee (Rachel McAdams) and her douchey younger boss (Dylan O’Brien) who become stranded together on a remote island, should add $9 million to $10 million by Sunday for a total domestic gross of $34 million.
—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
7 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dorky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dorky
Adjective
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The State’s humor is an interesting mixture of extremely dumb and self-aware.
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Mayhem comes to a coastal New England town in the form of a killer shark who hunts anybody dumb enough to get in the water.
Adjective
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And no, that was NOT OutKick or FOX who wrote that stupid headline.
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The thing about House of the Dragon is that everything really is quite stupid.
Adjective
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There was no repeat of the slow start that cost him a spot last season.
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The house old-fashioned can be made with bourbon or gin and is a much slower sip.
Adjective
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As for the volunteers, the goal is simple—help someone stay safe before the heat turns into an emergency.
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Evidence for at-home tools is thinner than for professional manual drainage, but the simplest options can offer mild circulation and surface-lymph support at a low price.
Adjective
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The combination makes strands thicker, fuller, stronger, frizz-free, and softer—and thus, longer with less shedding and breakage.
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The brown, round cookie has arms and legs, one eyebrow thicker than the other, and one buck tooth.
Cite this Entry
“Dorky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dorky. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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