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
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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
-
The effective gag order has left nonprofit leaders, local governments and tribes stunned and unsure about how to move forward in spending the EPA grants they were awarded.—
MaryAlice Parks,
ABC News,
12 Mar. 2025
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Starvation could have been a cause of death but officials are still unsure, Phipps said, noting that dogs do not get sick from hantavirus.—
Dalia Faheid,
CNN,
8 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
About 47 million people faced an enhanced to moderate severe storm threat from Madison, Wis., to Birmingham, Ala. Forecasters grew increasingly worried that intense thunderstorms farther south will likely bring an even greater tornado threat Saturday.—
Sean Murphy and Russ Bynum,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Mar. 2025
-
Citi, which went to $430 a share from $490, is worried about increasing competition and slowing growth.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Collins is heading for a reckoning with coastal moderates who may have given her a pass in 2020 but will be more suspicious now.—
Chris Stirewalt,
The Hill,
14 Mar. 2025
-
After all, Burt’s intentions have been suspicious all season.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Mitch [Hurwitz, the show creator] was very nervous.—
Aaron Couch,
The Hollywood Reporter,
14 Mar. 2025
-
Trump won't be on the ballot again, but this week had to make a lot of Republicans who will be very nervous.—
Domenico Montanaro,
NPR,
14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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While there may be any number of reasons for doing that, don’t necessarily assume that the national Republican Party’s skeptical views on climate and taxes will affect local levels.—
Ron Lieber,
New York Times,
19 Mar. 2025
-
Still, learning to think like a historian does not necessarily prepare someone to be a skeptical news consumer.—
Lightning Jay,
The Conversation,
19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Men’s Pro Singles Recap The venue was rocked by a huge upset on Thursday afternoon, when 16-yr old Floridian No. 40 seed John Lucian Goins shocked the No. 1 seed Ben Johns in the quarters.—
Todd Boss,
Forbes,
10 Mar. 2025
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This wasn’t easy: Florida Southern, ranked 23rd in the nation, led by as many as 12 points in the first half as the Moccasins pursued what would have been a massive upset in the world of Division II basketball.—
Walter Villa,
Miami Herald,
9 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The ripple effect from this trade should impact two areas: The uncertain QB situation and George Pickens.—
Michael-Shawn Dugar,
The Athletic,
10 Mar. 2025
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Despite an uncertain future, the theater’s team is determined to continue their art and their wartime volunteering.—
Illia Novikov,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Jacob Tremblay plays Winston's anxious stepson Wade.—
Raja Krishnamoorthi,
Newsweek,
13 Mar. 2025
-
In a time when many workers are anxious about what AI means for their roles, leaders who speak to both the potential and the limits of AI are earning deeper trust and keeping their teams engaged.—
Cheryl Robinson,
Forbes,
13 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hinky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hinky. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.
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