hankie

noun

han·​kie ˈhaŋ-kē How to pronounce hankie (audio)
variants or hanky
plural hankies
Synonyms of hankienext
: handkerchief

Synonyms of hankie

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Examples of hankie in a Sentence

held a hankie up to his nose and blew vigorously
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The refs have also flung their hankies for 177 false starts, the biggest tally in nearly 20 years. — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 9 Oct. 2026 There’s a dictator, and that’s the guy that’s throwing the yellow hankies. — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 28 Sep. 2026 Meanwhile, McCartney recalls requiring a hankie on first hearing his old partner-in-crime’s singing voice from beyond the grave. — Jon O'Brien, IndieWire, 26 Nov. 2025 Far from signaling misery, crying can be a source of pleasure, as when people pay good money to read a tearjerker or watch a three-hankie movie. — Big Think, 23 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hankie

Word History

Etymology

handkerchief + -ie

First Known Use

1878, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hankie was in 1878

Rhymes for hankie

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Browse Nearby Words

hank for hank
hankie
hankle
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Cite this Entry

“Hankie.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hankie. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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