kinky

adjective

ˈkiŋ-kē 

kinkier; kinkiest

1

: closely twisted or curled

2

: relating to, having, or appealing to unconventional tastes especially in sex

also : sexually deviant

3

: outlandish, far-out

kinkily

ˈkiŋ-kə-lē 

adverb

kinkiness

ˈkiŋ-kē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• bizarre
• bizarro
• cranky
• crazy
• curious
• eccentric
• erratic
• far-out
• funky
• funny
• kooky
• kookie
• odd
• off-kilter
• off-the-wall
• offbeat
• out-of-the-way
• outlandish
• outré
• peculiar
• quaint
• queer
• queerish
• quirky
• remarkable
• rum [chiefly British]
• screwy
• spaced-out
• strange
• wacky
• whacky
• way-out
• weird
• weirdo
• wild

Examples of kinky in a Sentence

She says her boyfriend is a little kinky.

while passing through the airport, don't wear any kinky clothing that is likely to pique the interest of security

Recent Examples on the Web

The content of those sexts was kinky, which added another layer to Monica’s feelings of betrayal. —Myisha Battle, TIME, 18 Oct. 2024

Erotica of all varieties — gay, straight, kinky and theoretical — is on glorious display at this year’s Venice Film Festival, with plenty of sizzling action onscreen and little of it gratuitous. —Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2024

Francis Ford Coppola goes kinky gothic delicious for this classic tale of the Prince of Darkness/Jonathan Harker/Mina love triangle featuring Gary Oldman, Keanu Reeves, and Winona Ryder as its leads. —Jordan Crucchiola, Vulture, 29 Oct. 2024

Those behaviors are an extension of the shame and should be recognized as signs that there is work to be done to reconcile your kinky identity. —Myisha Battle, TIME, 18 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1804, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

kinky

adjective

ˈkiŋ-kē 

kinkier; kinkiest

1

: tightly twisted or curled

2

: very strange or odd

kinkiness noun