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
-
Particular mostly to Louisiana weddings, the second line parade is quite the celebratory tradition in which a brass band and parasol-wielding newlyweds lead their guests, who wave handkerchiefs or napkins, on a festive jaunt through the city (or around their reception venue).—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
27 Feb. 2026 -
The showing marked a sharp contrast from the 2025 Gala, which had featured less advanced versions of the robots twirling handkerchiefs in a wobbly folk dance.—
Dylan Butts,Matthew Chin,
CNBC,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Celebrity sales often occur in Bel Air or Malibu, where, in 2025, fans of the late singer Tom Petty were allowed to roam his Mediterranean-style estate, nabbing everything from bath towels to a casserole dish once used by the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer.—
Zoey Goto,
Vogue,
9 Mar. 2026
-
If South Bay Shores is part of your plan, bring swimsuits and towels.—
Allison Palmer,
Sacbee.com,
9 Mar. 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 12 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
