kinky
kinky Lexical Profile
kinky Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Involving or given to unconventional, eccentric, or fetishistic sexual behavior.
"The novel caused a minor scandal upon publication due to its frank depiction of the characters' kinky desires."
Having sharp twists, curls, or bends; tightly curled or frizzy (especially of hair or fibers).
"She used a rich leave-in conditioner to keep her naturally kinky curls hydrated and defined."
Quirky, eccentric, or unconventional in style, character, or design.
"The boutique is known for selling kinky vintage boots and avant-garde accessories."
Word Nuance & Usage
While originally referring to tightly curled hair or twisted rope, in modern everyday usage 'kinky' most frequently carries an informal sexual connotation; speakers often prefer 'coily' or 'curly' when describing hair texture to avoid ambiguity.
• Rhymes for kinky
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed in the 18th century from 'kink' (borrowed from Dutch 'kink', meaning a twist in a rope) plus the adjectival suffix '-y'; the figurative sense of 'eccentric' arose in the mid-19th century, and the modern sexual sense emerged in the late 1950s.