KINKS Synonyms: 133 Similar and Opposite Words

kinks 1 of 2

noun

plural of kink

as in cramps

a painful sudden tightening of a muscle got a kink in my neck from lying in that awkward position for too long

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in tricks

an odd or peculiar habit the boss's fondness for nicknames is one of those kinks that staffers just have to put up with

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

conformities

as in whims

a sudden impulsive and apparently unmotivated idea or action whenever he got a kink in his head, he'd drop whatever he was doing to pursue this latest obsession

Synonyms & Similar Words

kinks

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of kink

as in loops

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Dissimilar Words

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 kinks

Noun

More and more things are becoming available via drone delivery, and UFC star Conor McGregor just showed us all that there are still some kinks that need to be worked out with this system. — Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2026 Dokoupil had to work out kinks on air, in real time, and the program’s overall audience still rests below 4 million, a demarcation point for CBS News management in the past. — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 3 Aug. 2026 As the wide receivers continue to work out the kinks, Sammis has been pleased with the progress of another position group. — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 July 2026 The defense proves disruptive as the offense works out the kinks on the first day of training camp. — Tashan Reed, Washington Post, 29 July 2026 Ship 40 and Booster 20, the Starship vehicles that will fly on Flight 13, will follow the same set of mission objectives to shake out the remainder of kinks in Starship V3. — Josh Dinner, Space.com, 10 July 2026 Now, the project is still in its early stages, with many kinks, known and unknown, to iron out. — New Atlas, 2 July 2026 In year three, the customary gift is leather, because by then a couple should really know each other’s kinks. — Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 22 June 2026 Fuel and food costs will come down slowly, airline tickets will stay pricey, and shipping costs will remain elevated as supply chain kinks are repaired after the Strait of Hormuz is reopened. — Joel Mathis, TheWeek, 17 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for kinks

Noun

Salmonella infection could result in diarrhea, nausea, headache and stomach cramps.

— Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026
The parasite Cyclospora causes an intestinal illness with symptoms like diarrhea, cramps, and fatigue.

— Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of cramps

Noun

Standard Tactics Lose Their Edge Here The biggest surprise was that the tricks our agency uses for clients didn’t work here!

— Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
The voices and visions play tricks and offer surprises, and there’s a sense of humour even when tragedy is lurking in the wings.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of tricks

Noun

Cristin Milioti was in her sweet spot as lovable mess Hazel, who left college a decade ago to marry tech titan Byron Gogol (Billy Magnussen), a control-freak inventor whose toxic quirks evoke many real-world counterparts.

— Judy Berman, Time, 11 Aug. 2026
Roberts was known for his meticulous preparation, which included visiting out-of-town courtrooms to gather intel on judges’ quirks and preferences.

— Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of quirks

Noun

Questioning of potential jurors captured the difficult quest of trying to find those who don’t have preconceived notions about the killing, which has been plumbed in several documentaries and countless podcasts and social media videos.

— Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026
Burden of Justice is a tense legal drama where personal lives, professional duties and shifting notions of right and wrong collide.

— Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of notions

Noun

Jack Reacher, protagonist of books by Lee Child and an ongoing Amazon drama, has several characteristics integral to his Jack Reacher-ness.

— Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 14 Aug. 2026
Hydrogen tackles flight phases Unlike conventional jet fuel, hydrogen has different combustion and storage characteristics, requiring changes to the systems that deliver and burn it.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of characteristics

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“Kinks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kinks. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of kinks

noun

verb

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