: a person preoccupied with arcane details or procedures in a specialized field
Synonyms
Examples of wonk in a Sentence
the policy wonks in the government
the candidate has an army of policy wonks ready to write for him a position paper on virtually any issue
Recent Examples on the Web
If and when that happens, following review by budget wonks and then the public, the feds will finally recognize cannabis’ medical uses.
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New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 3 May 2024
This is far from an esoteric or niche issue for policy wonks as every taxpayer and state worker is affected.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Hartford Courant, 7 Apr. 2024
Accordingly, much of the writing from policy wonks in recent years has called for plans to recognize the importance of local communities and build them back up.
—Adam S. Posen, Foreign Affairs, 20 Apr. 2021
Last year, Huawei also unveiled a smartphone with a homemade 7-nanometer chip, astonishing industry wonks and alarming U.S. policymakers, who have responded with yet more sanctions.
—Charlie Campbell, TIME, 30 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for wonk 
New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 3 May 2024
This is far from an esoteric or niche issue for policy wonks as every taxpayer and state worker is affected.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Hartford Courant, 7 Apr. 2024
Accordingly, much of the writing from policy wonks in recent years has called for plans to recognize the importance of local communities and build them back up.
—Adam S. Posen, Foreign Affairs, 20 Apr. 2021
Last year, Huawei also unveiled a smartphone with a homemade 7-nanometer chip, astonishing industry wonks and alarming U.S. policymakers, who have responded with yet more sanctions.
—Charlie Campbell, TIME, 30 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for wonk
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'wonk.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Wonk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wonk. Accessed 2 Jul. 2024.
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