as in handkerchiefs
a small, often square piece of material that is used for personal hygiene purposes
held a hankie up to his nose and blew vigorously
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hankies
Noun
-
In September, seek out Independence Day traditions like cueca (a folk dance with handkerchiefs) on street corners and at week-long fondas (pop-up fairs).—
Mark Johanson,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 May 2026 -
Had Otello understood that all the world is a joke, as Falstaff startlingly reveals at the end of the opera, Iago would never have been able to poison Otello’s susceptible frail ego with his ridiculous tales of handkerchiefs and what-not.—
Classical Music Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Remove any items that have landed on the countertops, put them away, and remove the towels, bath mats, and shower curtains.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
11 May 2026
-
The 72 guest rooms have cozy beds, soft towels, and squeaky-clean bathrooms.—
Jess Hoffert,
Midwest Living,
9 May 2026
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Cite this Entry
“Hankies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hankies. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
