HANKY-PANKIES Synonyms: 68 Similar and Opposite Words

hanky-panky

noun

ˌhaŋ-kē-ˈpaŋ-kē

Definition of hanky-panky

as in deception

the use of clever underhanded actions to achieve an end had to resort to a certain amount of hanky-panky to sneak away from the house without his dog seeing him

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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.

Recent Examples of hanky-panky The screening usually focusses on clandestine hanky-panky, but this season the girls’ irreverence was so abundant that the producers treated them to an unprecedented second viewing night. — Lillian Fishman, New Yorker, 27 June 2026 So just to be critical or even open to suspicion of hanky-panky or shenanigans around vaccination is immediately shut down by The New York Times or anybody. — David Zane Mairowitz, Rolling Stone, 22 Dec. 2025 And Floria most certainly doesn’t indulge in any of the hanky-panky in elevators and storerooms of the kind that the randy staffers in Grey’s Anatomy wallow in. — Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 2 Aug. 2025 But there was no hanky-panky, and in fact the two couples had dinner together every week for two years after Dirty Dancing wrapped. — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2024 On my ride with Boaz and Javadi, a Waymo operator suddenly joined us on the audio system, not to inform us that hanky-panky is prohibited, but to say that two passengers did not have their seat belts fastened. — Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 26 July 2024 Any outlier hanky-panky effort by Republicans would be enjoined by the courts based upon solid precedent. — Jerry Goldfeder, New York Daily News, 24 July 2024 No hanky-panky, no name calling, no twisting of truths, no bull. — Patrick Wallis, Baltimore Sun, 24 May 2024 Our inescapable conclusion is that the target of this pitch is being snowed by an acquaintance hoping to climb out of the friend zone for a bout of hanky-panky before moving on. — Tom Zoellner, SPIN, 21 Feb. 2024

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hanky-panky

Noun

But the quarterback sneak has never worked well because of its deception.

— Sam McDowell November 3, Kansas City Star, 3 Nov. 2026
The resulting models displayed resistance to monitoring, deception, and attempts at self-preservation.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 31 Oct. 2026

Definition of deception

Noun

Galloping advances in technology invite subterfuge and theft.

— Sam Mullins, Foreign Affairs, 28 Oct. 2026
The series unpacks the subterfuge and secrecy required to record the interviews and how Diana and Colthurst were on high alert while making the recordings, Barefield explained.

— Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of subterfuge

Noun

On Saturday’s opening night in Westport the audience seemed to react particularly strongly to the characters’ more realistic relationship struggles and weren’t as responsive to the military skullduggery.

— Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 28 Oct. 2026
International skullduggery in this case concerned the retrieving of two nuclear warheads from a treacherous Caribbean dictatorship.

— Ed Olmstead, HollywoodReporter, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of skulduggery

Noun

Besides, with everyone on high alert for AI staging these days, would-be buyers sometimes see agents’ presence as evidence of ChatGPT chicanery.

— Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 29 Oct. 2026
Most importantly, no more need for gas nor the treasonous chicanery plotted by the president and an enemy.

— Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of chicanery

Noun

Rarely does a pop album so deftly lay bare the trickery of pop albums, while remaining a compelling pop album in its own right.

— Samuel Hyland, Pitchfork, 28 Oct. 2026
Narratively, the momentum crests at the protest, abetted by Maksimović’s most dynamic cinematic trickery — which extends to a shot from the perspective of the errant, offending stone.

— Guy Lodge, Variety, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of trickery

Noun

The killings and his six-week trial in 2023 captivated the true crime world with a mix of treachery, corruption, money, power and Southern accents.

— Jeffrey Collins, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
The killings of Murdaugh’s wife and son and his subsequent six-week trial captivated the true crime world with a mix of treachery, corruption, money, power and Southern accents.

— ABC News, ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of treachery

Noun

But the hamstring injury to the star outside linebacker is severe enough that Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales didn’t entertain such gamesmanship.

— Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 21 Oct. 2026
Whatever higher purpose goes along with espionage work tends to be lost in the gamesmanship and cynicism that seems to come with the territory.

— Scott Tobias, Vulture, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of gamesmanship

Noun

Of course, the retort is that this would be irritating and exasperating to be continually deluged with alerts about AI deceptiveness.

— Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 24 Aug. 2025
Beyond the deceptiveness of the narrow material view, spiritual light and hope are always present to be found and felt.

— Sue Brightman, Christian Science Monitor, 3 Jan. 2025

Definition of deceptiveness

Browse Nearby Words

hanks

hanky-panky

hansom

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Style

“Hanky-panky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hanky-panky. Accessed 4 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of hanky-panky

noun

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