winkingly

In knowing fashion

In a winking manner—with a wink or with the knowing, playful quality a wink conveys.

The word usually describes something done with ironic awareness or conspiratorial humor: The film winkingly references its own genre conventions.

It suggests the speaker or creator is in on the joke.

suggestive

innuendo

Oblique disparaging remark

insinuatingIndirectly suggesting something
risqueBordering on improper
titillatingPleasurably stimulating, often sensually

naughty · racy · spicy · double-entendre · hinting · implying · loaded · veiled · oblique · indirect

flirtatious

coy

Affectedly modest

teasingPlayful, mild ridicule
seductivePowerfully attractive, tempting
alluringPowerfully appealing

coquettish · charming · playful · enticing · come-hither · amorous · flirty · suggestive · inviting · beckoning

humorous

ironic

Expressing contrary meaning

tongue-in-cheekHumorously not meant literally
sardonicGrimly mocking
sarcasticMockingly insincere in tone

witty · droll · facetious · satirical · joking · jesting · self-aware · knowing · sly · arch

playful

mischievous

Playfully causing trouble

impishPlayfully mischievous in manner
roguishMischievously charming
lightheartedCheerful and without worry

cheeky · jaunty · sprightly · elfin · puckish · waggish · sportive · frisky · jolly · gleeful

conspiratorial

knowing

Possessing awareness or insight

complicitSharing guilt in wrongdoing
secretConcealed information
insiderOne with confidential access

nudge · collusive · scheming · plotting · confidential · private · hushed · sly · crafty · cunning

Opposites

sincerity of expression

winkinglysincerely

With genuine feeling

earnestly · genuinely · seriously · unironically · in earnest

transparency of communication

winkinglydirectly

Without intermediary steps

plainly · explicitly · straightforwardly · openly · bluntly

Family

Familiarity: Top 1,000,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Positive · Everyday, not technical · Rated G