hankie

noun

han·​kie ˈhaŋ-kē 

variants or hanky

plural hankies

: handkerchief

Synonyms of hankie

• handkerchief
• towel

Examples of hankie in a Sentence

held a hankie up to his nose and blew vigorously

Recent Examples on the Web

Be warned that Homebound is a three-hankie weeper. — Anupama Chopra, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019

Threads fly and snag over the grid of hankies, and become their own calligraphy. — Cate McQuaid, BostonGlobe.com, 25 Apr. 2023

If the refs keep their yellow hankies in their pockets, the Bills will secure a last second victory. — Bill Reinhard, New York Daily News, 23 Jan. 2025

Far from signaling misery, crying can be a source of pleasure, as when people pay good money to read a tearjerker or watch a three-hankie movie. — Big Think, 23 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

handkerchief + -ie

First Known Use

1878, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for hankie

• cranky
• hanky
• lanky
• yankee