Zonked

Meaning

To be extremely tired, exhausted, or under the heavy influence of drugs.

Origin

Imagine a mid-20th-century cartoon, where a character is hit over the head, and a "ZONK!" sound effect appears, followed by them collapsing into a dazed state. This visceral image, a quick, sharp blow leading to incapacitation, could have leaped from the screen into everyday speech. The word "zonked" perfectly captures that sudden, heavy impact, evolving to describe anyone utterly exhausted or overwhelmed, as if they've just taken a metaphorical hit that knocked them out cold.

Examples

• After hiking all day, I was completely zonked and fell asleep the moment my head hit the pillow.
• The medication left him feeling zonked for hours, making it hard to concentrate on anything.