wink 1 of 2

noun

Definition of winknext
1
as in nap
a short sleep I wasn't able to catch a wink during the entire flight

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in minute
a very small space of time I turned to look away, and in a wink he was gone

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

wink

2 of 2

verb

ˈwiŋk How to pronounce wink (audio)
1
as in to blink
to rapidly open and close one's eyes she winked several times to get the dust and grit out of her eyes

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2
as in to twinkle
to shine with light at regular intervals a lighthouse was winking in the distance

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3
as in to gleam
to shoot forth bursts of light fireflies winking in the darkness beyond our campfire

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4
as in to ignore
to secretly sympathize with or pretend ignorance of something improper or unlawful the whole sporting world seems to wink as untold sums are bet on the outcome of the Super Bowl

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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 wink
Noun
If James wants to go home to Cleveland, hopefully there are promises — if not wink-wink agreements made — of ownership opportunities with the Cavaliers. — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 14 July 2026 Chiefs head coach Andy Reid repped the Kingdom with a wink by pairing a red bow tie with his custom tuxedo from Peters Clothiers in Kansas City. — Kansas City Star, 4 July 2026
Verb
For Lin, part of her goal in posting her surveillance selfies was a winking subversion of the all-seeing state. — T.m. Brown, CNN Money, 18 July 2026 Orbital mirrors flashing and winking back to Earth could distract airline pilots. — Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 14 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for wink
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wink
  1. nap
  2. minute
  3. blink
  4. twinkle
  5. gleam
  6. ignore
  7. heartbeat
  8. flash
Noun
  • Take a nap, look at your phone, order another bev, because endless exposition requires scarce attention.
    — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The swing should only be used for short naps and never for overnight sleeping.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of nap
Noun
  • Chen popped in a 30-foot 3-pointer with a minute remaining to give the Valkyries a three-point lead, and then kept the advantage at three with a slick layup over a contest after Chicago scored.
    — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Less than a 10-minute drive away is Castellammare del Golfo, full of eateries, stores, and bars.
    — Megan Rose Murray, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of minute
Verb
  • Mug shots, camera footage, and interactive maps blink from the screens.
    — Constance Malleret, Christian Science Monitor, 13 Aug. 2026
  • There’s an incredibly welcoming feel, and no staffer blinks an eye at accommodating a baby or rowdy teens.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of blink
Verb
  • The Hubble Space Telescope captured this twinkling image of NGC 6723, or the Chandelier Cluster, a globular star cluster located 27,000 light-years away in our Milky Way galaxy.
    — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Be sure to plan at least one evening on-property to catch the sunset, when the mountains are painted in shades of pink and purple before giving way to a sky filled with twinkling stars.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of twinkle
Verb
  • The Soft Symmetry is crafted in both a smooth calf leather, with a gleaming gold lock closure, and a vintage leather, with accompanying matte silver hardware that gives it an intentionally patinaed look and slouchy feel.
    — Talia Abbas, Vogue, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Mermaidcore The scales of a mermaid tail have nothing on these gleaming glitter flake nails.
    — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of gleam
Verb
  • DeGravelles, who is based in Louisiana where Mohammed had been held, said harsher sanctions would be warranted if his orders continued to go ignored.
    — CBS Baltimore Staff, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Lúcia added the Maria da Penha law needed updating because violence against women in Brazil is also a matter of power and as many femicides take place out of women’s homes in situations that are reported to police but ignored.
    — Mauricio Savarese, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of ignore
Noun
  • Bruno Guimaraes was Newcastle’s heartbeat and captain, Kieran Trippier set standards, Anthony Gordon led Howe’s press and chipped in with goals, and, at his best, Sandro Tonali was a midfield scanner supreme.
    — George Caulkin, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
  • When the reality star was just three months along, she and Barker were informed that their baby no longer had a heartbeat during a doctor’s appointment.
    — Hannah Malach, InStyle, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of heartbeat
Verb
  • With Clark next to him in the 3-4 scheme, Williams flashed his strength and short-area quickness from the defensive interior each day in practice while battling against Tyler Smith, Cooper Beebe and Tyler Booker.
    — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Tottenham, repressed for so long in their spending and ambition, are suddenly flashing the cash like a slot machine, dropping £237million ($324m) already.
    — Adam Crafton, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of flash

Phrases Containing wink

Browse Nearby Words

wining
wink
wink (at)
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Cite this Entry

“Wink.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wink. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on wink

Nglish: Translation of wink for Spanish Speakers

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