kinky

adjective

ˈkiŋ-kē 

kinkier; kinkiest

1

: closely twisted or curled

2

: relating to, having, or appealing to unconventional tastes especially in sex

also : sexually deviant

3

: outlandish, far-out

kinkily

ˈkiŋ-kə-lē 

adverb

kinkiness

ˈkiŋ-kē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• bizarre
• bizarro
• cranky
• crazy
• curious
• eccentric
• erratic
• far-out
• funky
• funny
• kooky
• kookie
• odd
• off-kilter
• off-the-wall
• offbeat
• out-of-the-way
• outlandish
• outré
• peculiar
• quaint
• queer
• queerish
• quirky
• remarkable
• rum [chiefly British]
• screwy
• spaced-out
• strange
• wacky
• whacky
• way-out
• weird
• weirdo
• wild

Examples of kinky in a Sentence

She says her boyfriend is a little kinky.

while passing through the airport, don't wear any kinky clothing that is likely to pique the interest of security

Recent Examples on the Web

One of its hero ingredients is Manuka honey, which Buechner says is thick and nourishing enough to deep-condition coily, kinky hair. —Malia Griggs, Glamour, 2 May 2025

Francis Ford Coppola goes kinky gothic delicious for this classic tale of the Prince of Darkness/Jonathan Harker/Mina love triangle featuring Gary Oldman, Keanu Reeves, and Winona Ryder as its leads. —Jordan Crucchiola, Vulture, 26 Apr. 2025

Its popularity isn’t just hype: The 58 long bristles carefully and efficiently detangle even the kinkiest of Type 4 curls, and the 47 mini bristles gently smooth and calm static for a polished finish. —Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 26 Mar. 2025

According to the chart, type 4 hair is defined as kinky, with 4A hair being tight coils and 4B hair being z-angled coils. —India Espy-Jones, Essence, 9 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1804, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for kinky

• dinky
• inky
• pinkie
• pinky
• slinky
• stinky

Kids Definition

kinky

adjective

ˈkiŋ-kē 

kinkier; kinkiest

1

: tightly twisted or curled

2

: very strange or odd

kinkiness noun