Wack-Whack | Commonly Confused Words

Wack

/ˈwæk/

Something that is not good, strange, or poor in quality.

/wæk/

To hit something or someone with a quick, strong motion

Wack often implies something is bad or inferior. Remember it as sounding a bit like whacky, which can be synonymous with something not quite right.
Whack refers to hitting, making an effort, or giving something a try. Think of whack as the sound something makes when hit.
To differentiate, consider that wack lacks an h, just like it lacks quality or desirability.
Whack has a strong h, which matches its meaning related to impact or strength.
When in doubt, remember whack in relation to action and wack in relation to opinion on quality.