hunky

1 of 2

adjective

hunkier; hunkiest
Synonyms of hunkynext
: being a hunk : attractive and usually well-built
the film's hunky leading man

Hunky

2 of 2

noun

Hun·​ky ˈhəŋ-kē How to pronounce Hunky (audio)
variants or less commonly Hunkie
plural Hunkies
dated, usually disparaging + offensive
: a person of central or east European birth or descent

Examples of hunky in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Adjective
James Van Der Beek, a heartthrob who starred in coming-of-age dramas at the dawn of the new millennium, shooting to fame playing the titular character in Dawson’s Creek and in later years mocking his own hunky persona, has died. Dallas Morning News, 11 Feb. 2026 The mother of three was first spotted with the hunky Larocca, in October 2024, about six months after the nasty breakup with Hall. Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 11 Feb. 2026 Onscreen, Heathcliff has been represented over the years as a hunky-if-uncouth white man played by the likes of Laurence Olivier, Richard Burton, and Ralph Fiennes. Jasmine Vojdani, Vulture, 10 Feb. 2026 There are still plenty of American horror, love and crime stories, plenty of hunky serial killers and plenty of showcases for hot stars that won’t require an internal ethical audit. Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 21 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hunky

Word History

Etymology

Noun

alteration of Hungarian

First Known Use

Adjective

1890, in the meaning defined above

Noun

circa 1896, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hunky was in 1890

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Cite this Entry

“Hunky.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hunky. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.

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