Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Not straight, level, or stable; shaky, unsteady: Describes something that is physically unstable, crooked, or likely to wobble due to a defect or weakness.
   • Not functioning correctly or reliably; faulty: Used informally to describe something that is not working properly or is unsound.
   • Crooked or askew; turned or twisted to one side: Describes something that is not aligned correctly or is off-center.

Usage Examples

• Describing physical instability:
  • The wonky table made it difficult to write. (The unsteady table made it difficult to write.)
  • Be careful with that wonky chair; one leg is shorter. (Be careful with that wobbly chair; one leg is shorter.)
• Describing faulty function:
  • My computer has been acting wonky since the update. (My computer has been malfunctioning since the update.)
  • The data from that sensor is wonky and shouldn't be trusted. (The data from that sensor is unreliable and shouldn't be trusted.)
• Describing misalignment:
  • The picture on the wall looks a bit wonky. (The picture on the wall looks a little crooked.)
  • He tried to straighten his wonky tie. (He tried to straighten his crooked tie.)

Advanced Usage

• "to feel wonky": to feel unwell, dizzy, or off-balance (informal).
  • I felt a bit wonky after getting off the roller coaster. (I felt a little unsteady after getting off the roller coaster.)
• "wonky logic": reasoning that is flawed, unsound, or not logically coherent.
  • His argument was based on some wonky economic assumptions. (His argument was based on some faulty economic assumptions.)

Variants and Related Words

• Wonkily (adverb): in a wonky manner.
  • The shelf was wonkily attached to the wall. (The shelf was crookedly attached to the wall.)
• Wonkiness (noun): the state or quality of being wonky.
  • The wonkiness of the floor made the room feel uneven. (The unevenness of the floor made the room feel unbalanced.)

Synonyms

• Unsteady, wobbly, rickety, shaky: For physical instability.
• Faulty, defective, unreliable, unsound: For malfunction.
• Crooked, askew, awry, lopsided: For misalignment.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs/Idioms)

• "go wonky": to stop working properly, to malfunction (informal).
  • The TV signal goes wonky whenever it rains. (The TV signal malfunctions whenever it rains.)

Adjective

1. inclined to shake as from weakness or defect
   • a rickety table
   • a wobbly chair with shaky legs
   • the ladder felt a little wobbly
   • the bridge still stands though one of the arches is wonky
2. turned or twisted toward one side
   • a...youth with a gorgeous red necktie all awry- G.K.Chesterton
   • his wig was, as the British say, skew-whiff