werk

Own that runway

Werk is a deliberate respelling of "work" used in queer and drag culture to express enthusiastic approval of someone's appearance, performance, or attitude.

It's an exclamation of encouragement: Werk it, girl!

The spelling signals playfulness and affirmation, celebrating confidence and self-expression.

From ballroom culture, it has spread into mainstream slang.

effort

grind

Crush into particles

hustleEnergetic, aggressive action
slayDestroy or impress greatly
fierceViolently intense or aggressive

dedication · sweat · labor · struggle · persistence · determination · stamina · tenacity · perseverance · diligence

performance

slay

Destroy or impress greatly

fierceViolently intense or aggressive
runwayPaved path for planes
voguePrevailing popular style

strut · serving · realness · category · ball · drag · catwalk · pose · death drop · duckwalk

Opposites

performance quality

werkflop

Complete commercial failure

bomb · fail · choke · crash and burn · fall flat

self-expression and confidence

werkshrink

Decrease in size

cower · hide · wilt · play it safe · hold back

effort and engagement

werkgive up

Stop attempting something

phone it in · slack · coast · go through the motions · flatline

Family

work, worker, working, works, workers, worked, workout, workshop, workday

Familiarity: Top 1,000,000
Profile: Positive · Everyday, not technical · Rated G