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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Jennifer Granick, an ACLU lawyer, contends that our legal system stinks at threat modeling, something security wonks live for.
—
Neil J. Rubenking, PC Magazine, 1 Aug. 2025
For those of you who aren’t government wonks, that’s a prime position for pushing back against Trump.
—Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2025
This is all classic Spanberger, who's long cultivated a reputation as a moderate policy wonk focused on issues like fentanyl overdoses, veterans, and agriculture.
—Margaret Barthel, NPR, 17 June 2025
Policy wonks, advocates and representatives are descending on the European Union’s de facto capital for the European Council’s autumn meeting.
—Frey Lindsay, Forbes, 17 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for wonk
Neil J. Rubenking, PC Magazine, 1 Aug. 2025
For those of you who aren’t government wonks, that’s a prime position for pushing back against Trump.
—Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2025
This is all classic Spanberger, who's long cultivated a reputation as a moderate policy wonk focused on issues like fentanyl overdoses, veterans, and agriculture.
—Margaret Barthel, NPR, 17 June 2025
Policy wonks, advocates and representatives are descending on the European Union’s de facto capital for the European Council’s autumn meeting.
—Frey Lindsay, Forbes, 17 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for wonk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wonk
Noun
-
Tape nerds will note that Dončić also made six 2s from the left side of the free-throw area.—
John Hollinger,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
-
But then comes Pavia and his overperforming ‘Dores, the lackluster seasons and nerd-school jokes that gave way to FirstBank Stadium sell-outs and Heisman trophy campaigns.—
Andrea Williams,
Nashville Tennessean,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Dave Franco, in glasses, plays up the grinning geek factor a bit too much.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
22 Oct. 2025
-
In the 1990s, the internet boom created overnight fortunes along with unforeseen challenges for some tech geeks and impresarios who founded wildly successful dot-coms.—
Christina Binkley,
Robb Report,
11 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wonk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wonk. Accessed 1 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share