hinky

or hin·key, hink·ty, hinc·ty

[ hing-kee ]

adjective

, Slang.

, hin·ki·er, hin·ki·est.

1. acting in a nervous or very cautious way.
2. suspicious:

   Whenever he agrees with me, you know something hinky is going on!

3. snobbish; haughty.

Word History and Origins

Origin of hinky¹

First recorded in 1920–25; origin unknown

Example Sentences

That outcome, you know, it’s a little hinky, but the AP and Fox have done it.

From Slate

So the fraud was largely invisible to Ozy employees, at least until September 2021, when a New York Times column exposed the first whiff of something hinky: a strange voice on the other end of the line during a Goldman Sachs call.

From Salon

And the ultimate pilgrimage: to the ground of the vanished Hinky Dink BBQ stand, the spot on old Route 66 at the border between Pasadena and Eagle Rock.

From Los Angeles Times

It was all very hinky, and I feel like that’s going to be way worse in the next month as they’re trying to push out all these major cases.

From Slate

What’s illegal, what’s unethical, what’s just a bit hinky?

From Slate

More About Hinky

What does hinky mean?

Hinky is a slang term that most often means suspicious or dubious, as in I didn’t open that email because the subject line seemed hinky and it might have been spam.

Hinky can be used to describe people’s actions as well as objects. If your sister who never agrees with you suddenly does, you might think her agreement is a little hinky.

Hinky also means acting very cautious or nervous, as in Lester was so nervous about the big exam that he was acting all hinky, tapping his pencil against the desk and wriggling in his seat.

Hinky can also mean snobbish or haughty, as in Miriam’s hinky way of talking to new students let them know she didn’t think much of them and wasn’t a nice person.

Example: This is hinky — why would both of them be in the same place at the same time?

Where does hinky come from?

The first records of the term hinky come from around the 1920s. Its origin is unknown, but some have suggested it evolved from the slang term hincty meaning “conceited.”

Hinky is most often used to describe something that is suspicious in a way that causes unease or fear. Sometimes instead of describing people, it will be used to describe something that seems incorrect, such as an overly convenient plot point in a film, a plan that seems too good to be true, or the shape of something that is deformed. Often hinky is used to describe something as vaguely wrong or suspicious.

Did you know … ?

What are some other forms related to hinky?

• hinkier (adjective)
• hinkiest (adjective)

What are some synonyms for hinky?

• haughty
• snobbish
• mistrustful
• suspicious

What are some words that often get used in discussing hinky?

• business
• act
• situation
• wrong

How is hinky used in real life?

Hinky is most can be used in casual conversations, especially when accusing someone or something of being wrong or hiding something.

Dear Anyone in Horror Movies,
When lights go out- use glow sticks. No hinky flashlights or delicate candles. Tape 'em to your head.

— Nathan Fillion (@NathanFillion) September 15, 2016

I’m going to go out on a limb and say presenting your entire true-crime show featuring what you present as interviews with a major participant and only saying AT THE END that this was an actor recreating real interviews and not the actual person is, shall we say, hinky?

— Linda Holmes (@lindaholmes) July 6, 2021

Replaced the hinky doorknob to make up for my nephew not telling his wife I was coming.

— Lauren Hough (@laurenthehough) June 10, 2021

 

Try using hinky!

Which of the following is NOT a synonym for hinky?

A. haughty
B. pompous
C. humble
D. snobbish