Matthew McGiffen takes a hint:
Another neat little feature in SQL Server 2022 is Query Store Hints. This is the ability to apply a query hint through Query Store rather than having to modify existing code or fiddle around with plan guides.
Query hints are a way to influence optimizer behaviour towards generating desired execution plans for a given query. The word “hint” is a bit of a misnomer as usually they mandate what you wish to happen.
Right. They’re ‘hints’ in the way that my wife ‘hints’ that I should take out the garbage.