slinky

American  

[sling-kee] / ˈslɪŋ ki /

adjective

slinkier, slinkiest

1. characterized by or proceeding with slinking or stealthy movements.

2. made of soft, often clinging material that follows the figure closely and flows with body movement.

   a slinky gown.

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slinky British  

/ ˈslɪŋkɪ /

adjective

1. moving in a sinuously graceful or provocative way

2. (of clothes) figure-hugging; clinging

3. characterized by furtive movements

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Other Word Forms

• slinkily adverb
• slinkiness noun

Etymology

Origin of slinky

First recorded in 1915–20; slink + -y ¹

Example Sentences

Instead of incessant strobes and Charli clad in a slinky skirt, performing solo with no choreography, Johannes proposes backup dancers, green glitter, high wires and harnesses.

From Salon • Feb. 8, 2026

The answer soon arrived when Klum swapped the dress for a slinky black number.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 2, 2026

And at Althuis Hofland Fine Arts, Kazakh artist Waldemar Zimbelmann offers viewers a slinky series of self-portraits in which the artist twists, spins and transforms himself in a series of highly textured guises.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 3, 2025

The light from the star stretches and compresses - just like a slinky.

From Space Scoop • Apr. 23, 2025

No, Miss Miss had come to compete in a slinky pink evening gown that stretched across her misshapen body.

From "Beauty Queens" by Libba Bray