1
: a short tight twist or curl caused by a doubling or winding of something upon itself
2
a
: a mental or physical peculiarity : eccentricity, quirk
b
: whim
3
: a clever unusual way of doing something
4
: a cramp in some part of the body
5
: an imperfection likely to cause difficulties in the operation of something
6
: unconventional sexual taste or behavior
kinked; kinking; kinks
: to form a kink
: to make a kink in
Synonyms
Examples of kink in a Sentence
Noun
got a kink in my neck from lying in that awkward position for too long
the boss's fondness for nicknames is one of those kinks that staffers just have to put up with
Recent Examples on the Web
Annie Blackman, Allure, 3 Apr. 2024
But recently the California Assembly has been putting kinks in the state’s startup pipeline.
—Jordan McGillis, Orange County Register, 11 Mar. 2024
Some worry the kinks could cause some prospective students to give up altogether.
—Danielle Douglas-Gabriel The Washington Post, arkansasonline.com, 13 Feb. 2024
But despite the ease of the process, the technology still has some kinks that could affect people’s body types, facial features or even alter ethnicities.
—Danielle Abril, Washington Post, 8 Feb. 2024
Now in its third year, Lovers & Friends has yet to work out all of its kinks.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 25 Jan. 2024
At a press conference Tuesday, Adams, a Democrat, suggested that allowing users to find issues is just part of ironing out kinks in new technology.
—Jake Offenhartz, Fortune, 4 Apr. 2024
Get everything set up one day ahead for a practice run to work out any kinks.
—William Neff, Washington Post, 24 Mar. 2024
That didn’t stop the team from trying to iron out a few kinks with its 2024 car, RB 20.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 8 Mar. 2024
Emily Deletter, USA TODAY, 26 Mar. 2024
The container should be big enough to accommodate the roots without bending or kinking them.
—Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Jan. 2024
Frieze Cut: Frieze carpet is distinguished by its long fibers that are twisted together and kinked, resulting in a curly, knobby-looking surface often compared to a shag carpet.
—Sophie Flaxman, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Dec. 2023
That practically eliminates the chance of the line kinking.
—Sage Marshall, Field & Stream, 19 July 2023
Testers found that the hose did kink a bit, but the kinks straightened out quickly.
—Jamie Weissman, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 June 2023
The hose straightened out nicely when unpackaged and didn’t kink during testing.
—Camryn Rabideau, Peoplemag, 7 June 2023
Noun
What's not to like? 4U by Tia Curly girls, listen up; 4U by Tia is here to serve your coils, kinks, and everything in between.
—Annie Blackman, Allure, 3 Apr. 2024
But recently the California Assembly has been putting kinks in the state’s startup pipeline.
—Jordan McGillis, Orange County Register, 11 Mar. 2024
Some worry the kinks could cause some prospective students to give up altogether.
—Danielle Douglas-Gabriel The Washington Post, arkansasonline.com, 13 Feb. 2024
But despite the ease of the process, the technology still has some kinks that could affect people’s body types, facial features or even alter ethnicities.
—Danielle Abril, Washington Post, 8 Feb. 2024
Now in its third year, Lovers & Friends has yet to work out all of its kinks.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 25 Jan. 2024
At a press conference Tuesday, Adams, a Democrat, suggested that allowing users to find issues is just part of ironing out kinks in new technology.
—Jake Offenhartz, Fortune, 4 Apr. 2024
Get everything set up one day ahead for a practice run to work out any kinks.
—William Neff, Washington Post, 24 Mar. 2024
That didn’t stop the team from trying to iron out a few kinks with its 2024 car, RB 20.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 8 Mar. 2024
Verb
In heavy fog, the towboat's pilot, Willie Odom, struck the bridge, which forced the end of the bridge span out of alignment by about 3 feet and kinked the track.
—Emily Deletter, USA TODAY, 26 Mar. 2024
The container should be big enough to accommodate the roots without bending or kinking them.
—Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Jan. 2024
Frieze Cut: Frieze carpet is distinguished by its long fibers that are twisted together and kinked, resulting in a curly, knobby-looking surface often compared to a shag carpet.
—Sophie Flaxman, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Dec. 2023
That practically eliminates the chance of the line kinking.
—Sage Marshall, Field & Stream, 19 July 2023
Testers found that the hose did kink a bit, but the kinks straightened out quickly.
—Jamie Weissman, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 June 2023
The hose straightened out nicely when unpackaged and didn’t kink during testing.
—Camryn Rabideau, Peoplemag, 7 June 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'kink.' 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
“Kink.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kink. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
kink
1 of 2 noun1
: a short tight twist or curl (as in a thread, rope, or hose)
2
: cramp entry 1 sense 1
a kink in my back
3
: an imperfection that makes something hard to use or work
kink
2 of 2 verb
: to form or cause to form a kink
Medical Definition
kink
1 of 2 noun1
: a short tight twist or curl caused by a doubling or winding of something upon itself
2
: a cramp in some part of the body
kink
2 of 2 intransitive verb
: to form a kink
: to make a kink in
blood vessels have been kinked and shut off—Benjamin Spock
Benjamin SpockLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
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