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Synonyms

kinky

American  
[king-kee] / ˈkɪŋ ki /

adjective

kinkier, kinkiest
  1. full of kinks; closely twisted.

    a kinky wire.

  2. (of hair) closely or tightly curled.

  3. Slang. marked by unconventional sexual preferences or behavior, as fetishism, sadomasochism, or the like.


kinky British  
/ ˈkɪŋkɪ /

adjective

  1. slang given to unusual, abnormal, or deviant sexual practices

  2. informal exhibiting unusual idiosyncrasies of personality; quirky; eccentric

  3. informal attractive or provocative in a bizarre way

    kinky clothes

  4. tangled or tightly looped, as a wire or rope

  5. tightly curled, as hair

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • kinkily adverb
  • kinkiness noun

Etymology

Origin of kinky

An Americanism dating back to 1835–45; kink + -y 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Bailey lets her displeasure be known by having a friend shave off her beautiful spray of kinky hair.

From Los Angeles Times

Her black kinky curls fanned around the familiar face like swirling hurricane clouds.

From Literature

The hair at the nape of the neck, which is typically shorter, kinkier and considered more difficult to style.

From Seattle Times

When Gary heads out to find him, the story grows forbidding and a little kinky.

From Washington Post

In turn, Black women have long utilized their kinky textures as a form of survival and resistance.

From New York Times