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
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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
Certainly, there was no shortage of hinky transactions precipitated by the debtors who were intent on protecting their residence as long as possible.
—Jay Adkisson, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2021
The scene at the small, Northeast Hancock Street house was hinky.
—oregonlive, 3 May 2021
To him, the statistics in the Lancet paper looked hinky.
—Adam Rogers, Wired, 11 Nov. 2020
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
Certainly, there was no shortage of hinky transactions precipitated by the debtors who were intent on protecting their residence as long as possible.
—Jay Adkisson, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2021
The scene at the small, Northeast Hancock Street house was hinky.
—oregonlive, 3 May 2021
To him, the statistics in the Lancet paper looked hinky.
—Adam Rogers, Wired, 11 Nov. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hinky
Adjective
-
Companies are eager to leverage the technology to gain a competitive advantage, but many are unsure how to handle its complexities.—
Arjun Pillai,
Forbes,
24 Jan. 2025
-
Long COVID remains mysterious with health care providers unsure which symptoms can be directly attributed to a COVID-19 infection and how those symptoms may persist.—
Irene Wright,
Miami Herald,
23 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Economic data users like Algernon Austin, director for race and economic justice at the Center for Economic and Policy Research, a left-leaning think tank, are worried about what changes may be coming to the sample size for the Current Population Survey, which produces the monthly employment data.—
Hansi Lo Wang,
NPR,
24 Jan. 2025
-
A number of men and women on Mitchell’s team were worried about their health and safety, the lawsuit says, so Mitchell raised the issue during the training sessions.—
Jessica Gelt,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
The guard told 911 dispatch that a suspicious vehicle — a dark SUV — had driven through his yard.—
Emma Steele,
CBS News,
26 Jan. 2025
-
Editors’ Picks The four Israeli hostages released by Hamas on Saturday, who were dressed in military-style clothes, had been working as lookouts for Israel’s army, reporting on suspicious activity across the border, when they were captured.—
Patrick Kingsley,
New York Times,
25 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Some parents are nervous to send their kids back to the center, given the air quality concerns and its proximity to the burn area.—
Kate Sequeira,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Jan. 2025
-
Ellie is nervous, and so naturally, her dead lesbian aunt manifests as an unwanted spiritual gay guide.—
Sadie Collins,
Them,
24 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Damas noted that shippers are still skeptical of the carriers’ ability to reach this figure, and rightfully so.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
31 Jan. 2025
-
But many Venezuelan opposition figures are skeptical of these Trump administration assurances.—
Andres Oppenheimer,
Miami Herald,
31 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Notre Dame must either score on defense or special teams to pull off the upset or at least set up Leonard with a short field.—
The Athletic College Football Staff,
The Athletic,
20 Jan. 2025
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In the courtside footage, the mom — who was holding one child’s hand and had another kid on her hip — becomes visibly upset, stepping forward and moving very close to the principal.—
Bailey Richards,
People.com,
20 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The ban, however, was short-lived, and hours later, incoming President Donald Trump overturned it, giving TikTok a temporary reprieve—but its future still remains uncertain.—
Daniel R. Depetris,
Newsweek,
1 Feb. 2025
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Whether Hamas will fully comply remains uncertain, putting the fragile truce at risk.—
Efrat Lachter,
Fox News,
1 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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For example, someone not willing to open up to you about certain aspects of their personal life can be interpreted as personal rejection, which may trigger defensive or anxious behaviors.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes,
24 Jan. 2025
-
More than a few have faced foreclosure, leaving owners anxious about the need to get tenants back in their buildings or find another use for the millions of unused square feet.—
Roger Vincent,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near hinky
Cite this Entry
“Hinky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hinky. Accessed 5 Feb. 2025.
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