Synonyms of hinky

hinky

adjective

ˈhiŋ-kē 

slang

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

• unsure
• suspicious
• skeptical
• uncertain
• doubtful
• unsettled
• dubious
• unconvinced
• distrustful
• mistrustful
• undecided
• on the fence
• hesitant
• ambivalent
• conflicted
• trustless
• equivocal
• insecure
• irresolute
• diffident
• indecisive
• wavering
• vacillating
• halting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• certain
• sure
• convinced
• positive
• confident
• sanguine
• assured
• determined
• self-assured
• decisive
• resolute

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

• worried
• nervous
• upset
• anxious
• uneasy
• troubled
• apprehensive
• concerned
• uptight
• perturbed
• jumpy
• jittery
• tense
• hesitant
• insecure
• bothered
• queasy
• disturbed
• antsy
• flustered
• on pins and needles
• goosey
• ill at ease
• on tenterhooks
• on edge
• freaked
• dithery
• edgy
• nervy
• unquiet
• obsessed
• distraught
• preoccupied
• atwitter
• aggrieved
• restless
• distressed
• het up
• aflutter
• keyed up
• fretful
• shook-up
• disquieted
• foreboding
• freaked-out
• vexed
• hung up
• fretting
• fidgety
• unnerved
• high-strung
• spooky
• misgiving
• fluttery
• unstrung
• stewing
• skittish
• flighty
• qualmish
• undone
• qualmy
• twittered
• hypertense

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• collected
• cool
• calm
• easy
• sure
• relaxed
• nerveless
• confident
• controlled
• happy-go-lucky
• self-assured
• self-confident
• self-controlled

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of hinky

Wisconsin is similarly a hinky place that can be hard to poll, but the most recent ones show Democrats have a shot at holding the Governor’s gig. — Philip Elliott, Time, 10 Aug. 2026

The rule of law may be battered and bruised, and even at times a bit hinky. — Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026

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

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