1
as in unsure
not feeling sure about the truth, wisdom, or trustworthiness of someone or something
the cop was feeling hinky about the whole situation and was starting to think that it was a setup
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in worried
feeling or showing uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty
after noticing that the driver seemed hinky, the border guard demanded that he submit to an inspection of his vehicle
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hinky
Even with such an expansion afoot, odd missteps, hinky plotholes, and confounding questions still abound.
—
Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 19 Nov. 2024
These sorts of trust schemes have been around a long time and are known by a variety of hinky names such as the constitutional equity pure trust or a pure trust organization.
—Jay Adkisson, Forbes, 16 Oct. 2024
Well, that's the question that some people will ask is: Why didn't someone just throw a hinky vote at someone?
—EW.com, 2 Nov. 2023
Lumber prices have shot up again in a rise reminiscent of a year ago, when high-climbing wood prices warned of the hinky supply lines and broad inflation to come.
—Ryan Dezember, WSJ, 19 Dec. 2021
Some of these outcasts — like the would-be killer of Ronald Reagan, John Hinckley (a hinky looking Adam Chanler-Berat) — are all too familiar.
—Marilyn Stasio, Variety, 14 Nov. 2021
The scene at the small, Northeast Hancock Street house was hinky.
—oregonlive, 3 May 2021
Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 19 Nov. 2024
These sorts of trust schemes have been around a long time and are known by a variety of hinky names such as the constitutional equity pure trust or a pure trust organization.
—Jay Adkisson, Forbes, 16 Oct. 2024
Well, that's the question that some people will ask is: Why didn't someone just throw a hinky vote at someone?
—EW.com, 2 Nov. 2023
Lumber prices have shot up again in a rise reminiscent of a year ago, when high-climbing wood prices warned of the hinky supply lines and broad inflation to come.
—Ryan Dezember, WSJ, 19 Dec. 2021
Some of these outcasts — like the would-be killer of Ronald Reagan, John Hinckley (a hinky looking Adam Chanler-Berat) — are all too familiar.
—Marilyn Stasio, Variety, 14 Nov. 2021
The scene at the small, Northeast Hancock Street house was hinky.
—oregonlive, 3 May 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hinky
Adjective
-
As this section is still early on in the design phase, the leaders are unsure about how long the road will be shut down, if at all.—
Rachel Royster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 Oct. 2025
-
With Feyenoord’s defenders unsure whether to engage, Rogers had time and space to drive.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
But farmers are worried that time is quickly running out to reach a deal in time to sell any of this year’s crop to their biggest customer.—
Danny Bakst,
Fortune,
5 Oct. 2025
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The worried mom immediately booked a flight from Virginia to Colorado, which was an agonizing trip.—
Sam Gillette,
PEOPLE,
4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Pyongyang has long been accused of conducting suspicious transfers of goods between ships in the East China Sea, which is bordered by China, the Korean Peninsula, Japan and Taiwan.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Digital asset treasury companies face SEC and FINRA investigations for suspicious trading patterns around crypto announcements.—
Boaz Sobrado,
Forbes.com,
6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Now, Darvish will get to pitch in front of a stadium of screaming, hopeful, nervous Cubs fans.—
Jon Greenberg,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
-
If presidents are stars on the stage of world history, vice presidents are nervous understudies hidden away behind the scenes.—
Book Marks
October 2,
Literary Hub,
2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Burnett urged those who received the calls to stay skeptical of anyone claiming to be a deputy and to not engage in conversation with them.—
David Clarey,
jsonline.com,
6 Oct. 2025
-
Some fans accepted the clarification, while others remained skeptical.—
Amber Corrine,
VIBE.com,
6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Dart wasn’t the only Giants rookie to have a substantial impact in the upset victory.—
Dane Brugler,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
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Nudge your kids to make decisions for themselves, even when other people are upset.—
Megan Sauer,
CNBC,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The hospital remains closed, and the company that owns it, Ballad Health, has said its reopening is uncertain.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
5 Oct. 2025
-
While the 118 came together to save the survivors, the scars of Bobby's passing lingered, as did the uncertain future of the captain-less team.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Arizonan's are growing anxious as a deal for the federal government shutdown extends into its fourth day.—
Arizona Republic,
AZCentral.com,
5 Oct. 2025
-
Amazon’s October Prime Day is days away, but for anxious shoppers who want to get a head start on saving, there are already plenty of deals to score.—
Shalwah Evans,
PEOPLE,
5 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hinky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hinky. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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