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
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
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
Jay Adkisson, Forbes, 16 Oct. 2024
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hinky
Adjective
-
Researchers are still unsure of the exact cause of a water allergy.—
Sarah Jividen,
Verywell Health,
23 May 2025
-
The letter said that educators who were unsure of their responsibility were not given guidance or support about what to do.—
Jennah Pendleton,
Sacbee.com,
23 May 2025
Adjective
-
However, because the pool was shallow, Lisberg was less worried.—
Raven Brunner,
People.com,
25 May 2025
-
While Herzig is hoping to win a million dollars, his guests are all worried about their own various fantasy teams, mostly competing for a few hundred bucks.—
David Hill,
Rolling Stone,
24 May 2025
Adjective
-
There was no indication of suspicious activity and no danger to the public, police said.—
Carolyn Stein,
Chicago Tribune,
25 May 2025
-
On Wednesday, an investigator spied a suspicious drone over the detention center shortly before 3 a.m. and tracked it to a landing spot on top of an SUV parked just down the road.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
24 May 2025
Adjective
-
The price of gold tends to move when markets get nervous – and so does the gold.—
Ken Roberts,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2025
-
It should also be noted that Demings is more than a little nervous right now about making any public promises about helping to finance a baseball stadium.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
22 May 2025
Adjective
-
Hannah Harriman, a Marquette County Health Department nurse who previously spent 12 years working for Planned Parenthood of Marquette, is skeptical of any suggestion that telehealth can replace a rural brick-and-mortar clinic.—
Kate Wells,
NPR,
16 May 2025
-
Klein is skeptical that the Trump Administration will usher in a new era of building things.—
Emma Green,
New Yorker,
16 May 2025
Adjective
-
Santa Margarita 6, Huntington Beach 5: Chase Marlow singled in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning to give the Eagles an upset over Sunset League champion Huntington Beach.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
21 May 2025
-
But there are things companies can proactively do to help identify their best options and maybe even turn this upset condition into a business advantage for product lines.—
Ryan Gray,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2025
Adjective
-
In the early, uncertain days of COVID-19, when people were told to stay home to save lives, Lightfoot chose compassion over citations.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
20 May 2025
-
This phenomenon has been further propelled by ongoing inflation, high interest rates, and an uncertain economic outlook.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2025
Adjective
-
In the novel’s historical re-creation, is there an anxious note to Americans now losing themselves in accommodation?—
David Denby,
New Yorker,
23 May 2025
-
An inaccurate diagnosis might lead to unnecessary or risky treatment, and a false positive can cause stress by requiring additional tests and anxious waits for results.—
Max Votek,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hinky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hinky. Accessed 31 May. 2025.
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