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
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
Liam Rappleye, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
What’s engaging is increasing the efficiency and ironing out the kinks.
—Griff Griffin, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
Tristan Rutherford, Robb Report, 26 Sep. 2025
This is even more likely to result in a clog if the drain hose is kinked, which is a common occurrence.
—Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for kink
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Noun
For a start-up electric vehicle manufacturer (Rivian delivered its first vehicle in 2021), issues such as these are to be expected as the brand irons out the kinks in production and development.
—Liam Rappleye, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
What’s engaging is increasing the efficiency and ironing out the kinks.
—Griff Griffin, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
Verb
To preserve the svelte look, rather than appearing boxy, the floor-to-ceiling glass panels on the upper deck are subtly kinked to maintain the racing lines.
—Tristan Rutherford, Robb Report, 26 Sep. 2025
This is even more likely to result in a clog if the drain hose is kinked, which is a common occurrence.
—Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for kink
Cite this Entry
“Kink.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kink. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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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