blinking

verb

present participle of blink
1
as in twinkling
to shine with light at regular intervals she loves to sit in the dark and watch the lights on the Christmas tree blink in ever-changing patterns

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in squinting
to rapidly open and close one's eyes I blinked for a few seconds after the camera flashed

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in succumbing
to cease resistance (as to another's arguments, demands, or control) for two days the nations stood on the brink of war, until one finally blinked

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in staring
to look long and hard in wonder or surprise stood blinking at the ridiculous scene before him in utter disbelief

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of blinking Soon, dozens of virtual attackers were blinking in and out of existence. — Stephen Witt, New Yorker, 30 July 2026 Nearby, several crocodiles sat without blinking in individual cages filled with greenish water. — ABC News, 29 July 2026 Nothing beats the thrill of chasing the blinking bugs in grandma’s backyard in the dark, zooming around with Mason jars in hand. — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 27 July 2026 But while Momsen was opening a concert, AC/DC was presiding over something that felt like a reunion, judging by the sea of black T-shirts, blinking red devil horns and giant cups of beer. — Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 22 July 2026 Everyone—blue-collar moms, college students, CEOs—suffers from the distractions of carrying around the pinging, blinking pocket-size casinos that our phones have become. — Xochitl Gonzalez, The Atlantic, 17 July 2026 There’s a hundred blinking eyes, proving cities are for lonely deer in headlights. — Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 17 July 2026 The effects of light pollution on wildlife would doubtless grow if suddenly a million new, blinking satellites were added to our night skies. — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 9 July 2026 There were warning signs blinking about the quality of the defenders for weeks and on Monday those prophecies were fulfilled. — Kevin Dotson, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blinking
  1. twinkling
  2. squinting
  3. succumbing
  4. staring
  5. flashing
  6. submitting
  7. gazing
  8. flickering
Verb
  • Grandfathered into the history of the hotel is Top of the East—just the kind of old-school, sprawling rooftop lounge with a drop-dead panoramic view of the twinkling town that every city needs.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 July 2026
  • Meanwhile, families have front-row seats to a special show at night—the twinkling lights of ships passing through the Panama Canal on the horizon.
    — Gina Kramer, USA Today, 25 July 2026
Definition of twinkling
Verb
  • To help prevent wrinkles from forming around your eyes naturally, Zeichner recommends wearing sunglasses in the sun, as well as regular glasses to prevent squinting.
    — Daley Quinn, Glamour, 9 July 2026
  • No more squinting at raw tape and praying for a basketball IQ transplant.
    — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 24 June 2026
Definition of squinting
Verb
  • So far there’s no sign of that, and time is running out, although to its credit the EU, with its Industrial Accelerator Act, wants urgent action to save local automakers from succumbing to ballooning Chinese sales.
    — Neil Winton, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • His father was by his side for the rise, but his father never saw this fight happen, succumbing to his failing lungs.
    — Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 25 July 2026
Definition of succumbing
Verb
  • On top of that, many schools have kids spending lots of time on screens, even though staring at them for long periods can be stressful and exhausting.
    — Kara Alaimo, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Residents will encounter him perched on the air conditioner just outside their apartment, staring in.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of staring
Verb
  • Rookies are flashing Receiver Caleb Douglas flashed a number of times during camp’s first week, as did linebacker Jacob Rodiguez, and safety Michael Taaffe.
    — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026
  • The dealmaking machinery seems stalled at some studios due to legalistic clashes over mergers, but at Continental Pictures, the green lights are flashing.
    — Peter Bart, Deadline, 30 July 2026
Definition of flashing
Verb
  • Election officials say July 30 was the highest turnout day so far for early in-person voting, with 15,965 voters submitting ballots.
    — Paula Wethington, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026
  • According to a source at HBO, there wasn’t much consideration given to submitting A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms as a comedy.
    — Joe Reid, Vulture, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of submitting
Verb
  • Walking through the doors of Valkyrie Arms Training in Meridian, you are greeted by a large mural of 19th century women on the Western frontier, dressed in period gowns and gazing into the distance — and wielding firearms.
    — Shannon Tyler, Idaho Statesman, 25 July 2026
  • The night sky has incredible depth, and there's nowhere better to learn how to appreciate that than when gazing at the Summer Triangle.
    — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 24 July 2026
Definition of gazing
Verb
  • Muluk Spa is relatively compact with serene treatment rooms illuminated by flickering candle-like lights.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Their disparate sonic elements form a dissonant but cohesive whole, wisps of trumpet and electronic woodwinds flashing by as quickly as flickering subway car lights.
    — Sam Goldner, Pitchfork, 23 July 2026
Definition of flickering

Browse Nearby Words

blinkered
blinking
blinking (at)
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Blinking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blinking. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on blinking

Nglish: Translation of blinking for Spanish Speakers

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