What does wanked mean?
“Wanked” is the past tense and past participle of “wank,” a vulgar English verb meaning to masturbate. It can be used literally, as in a sentence describing someone’s private sexual behavior, or figuratively to describe a contemptible, inadequate, or irritating performance. Because the term is blunt and sexually explicit, it is mainly encountered in informal speech, comedy, and strong informal writing, though it also has a dismissive figurative use that can be especially insulting. The word is chiefly associated with British English but is understood and used in American English as well. Its simple past-tense form often appears in casual expressions such as “just wanked” and “wanked off,” while the related noun “wanker” is commonly used as a derogatory term for an annoying or contemptible person.
verbPast tense and past participle of the vulgar verb “wank,” meaning to masturbate. It can also be used figuratively or as a dismissive insult.
- To masturbate.
- Figuratively or dismissively, to behave or perform in a contemptible, irritating, or inadequate way.
"He wanked in the shower before leaving for work."
"He wanked after finishing the last episode of the series."
"The speaker's wanked attempt at a comeback only made the situation worse."
A blunt, unmistakably vulgar piece of British and American English, “wanked” is best known for describing a private, very human act, but it is also used figuratively to dismiss something as pathetic.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of wanked
“Wanked” is formed from the base verb “wank” by adding the regular English past-tense ending -ed. The base verb was in use by the 19th century, although its precise origin is uncertain and should not be confidently assigned to a particular dialect or foreign language. Related forms include “wank” and the insulting noun “wanker.”
Related word forms
How wanked is actually used
This is a vulgar, informal term. It is chiefly associated with British English but is also used in American English. In figurative or insulting contexts, it can convey strong contempt and is generally unsuitable for formal writing.
Easily confused with wanked
“Wanked” alone means masturbated, while “wanked off” is the phrasal form meaning the same thing, often with a stronger sense of finishing the act.
“Wanked” is a past-tense verb form, whereas “wanker” is a noun used as an insulting term for a contemptible or irritating person.