as in glancing
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in squinting
to rapidly open and close one's eyes
she winked several times to get the dust and grit out of her eyes
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in twinkling
to shine with light at regular intervals
a lighthouse was winking in the distance
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in gleaming
to shoot forth bursts of light
fireflies winking in the darkness beyond our campfire
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in ignoring
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
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Recent Examples of winking
Toby Skinner, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Dec. 2024
Another technique is using Hall’s narration for all the little internal monologue bits, the little winking one-liners that Dexter never says out loud.
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 22 Dec. 2024
That extends beyond winking recommendations, down to nuts-and-bolts prep and bringing his full self to each and every day.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 13 Dec. 2024
No one is winking or making fun, despite the fact that this father and son are extolling the beauty of the morning while inside a sunless bunker six miles underground.
—Tim Greiving, Los Angeles Times, 5 Dec. 2024
Whatever the noble title, Cronenberg wore the moniker with the same winking irony that suffuses so much of his work – using genre as a kind of Trojan horse to get his unique vision to travel.
—Ben Croll, Variety, 1 Dec. 2024
The pair stood close together as Swift smiled before winking and sticking her tongue out at the camera.
—Escher Walcott, People.com, 30 Nov. 2024
Directed by Simon Otto (How to Train Your Dragon), the Netflix feature boasts a strong voice cast as well as a narrative that successfully finds the middle ground between winking self-awareness and the suspension of disbelief that propels all Yuletide tales.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Oct. 2024
Some signed off with smiling or winking face emojis.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2024
Verb
Beneath us is a shimmering expanse of untouched snow like powdered sugar, winking in the spring sun; the odd shadow; the frozen Fedaia Lake far below.
—Toby Skinner, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Dec. 2024
Another technique is using Hall’s narration for all the little internal monologue bits, the little winking one-liners that Dexter never says out loud.
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 22 Dec. 2024
That extends beyond winking recommendations, down to nuts-and-bolts prep and bringing his full self to each and every day.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 13 Dec. 2024
No one is winking or making fun, despite the fact that this father and son are extolling the beauty of the morning while inside a sunless bunker six miles underground.
—Tim Greiving, Los Angeles Times, 5 Dec. 2024
Whatever the noble title, Cronenberg wore the moniker with the same winking irony that suffuses so much of his work – using genre as a kind of Trojan horse to get his unique vision to travel.
—Ben Croll, Variety, 1 Dec. 2024
The pair stood close together as Swift smiled before winking and sticking her tongue out at the camera.
—Escher Walcott, People.com, 30 Nov. 2024
Directed by Simon Otto (How to Train Your Dragon), the Netflix feature boasts a strong voice cast as well as a narrative that successfully finds the middle ground between winking self-awareness and the suspension of disbelief that propels all Yuletide tales.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Oct. 2024
Some signed off with smiling or winking face emojis.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for winking
Adjective
-
Glaser, from a very glancing stylistic consideration, looks like a multicam by comparison.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
10 Aug. 2024
-
Even so, Joonam is too scattershot and distanced from culture and politics to resonate with the news — potentially the film’s greatest draw — in more than a glancing way.—
Caryn James,
The Hollywood Reporter,
22 Jan. 2023
Verb
-
FedEx — The stock gained more than 1% after Jefferies upgraded FedEx to buy from hold, saying investors are ignoring the cost-cutting efforts at the packing and shipping company that will continue to drive earnings growth regardless of the macroeconomic challenges.—
Lisa Kailai Han,
CNBC,
24 Mar. 2025
-
Yet there’s no ignoring the fact that the Rockies would’ve loved to have Brito penciled in as their second baseman this year.—
Daniel R. Epstein,
Forbes,
23 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Last year’s champs the Ghouls are a glaring and righteous exception.—
Jed Gottlieb,
Boston Herald,
1 June 2025
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Their most glaring needs — a No. 1 receiver and left tackle — are being addressed by Diggs and Campbell.—
Jacob Robinson,
New York Times,
27 May 2025
Adjective
-
In 2000, the beauty giant debuted its selection of perfectly shimmery lip products, which to this day deliver a blinding glow, a (literally) yummy formula and hydration that lasts up to four hours.—
Michelle Lee,
People.com,
20 May 2025
-
Image Image In a blinding flash, the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima by the Enola Gay killed at least 70,000 people.—
William J. Broad,
New York Times,
19 May 2025
Adjective
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Yet as the film wends its way through the narrow streets, harbors and glittering waters of Spain’s salty Galician coastline, immersing itself in chaotic gatherings of family and community, the title’s spiritual aspect takes on a rueful irony.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
21 May 2025
-
DeChambeau’s most glittering past statistics at Quail Hollow come on the greens.—
Justin Ray,
New York Times,
14 May 2025
Adjective
-
This year there have been multiple flaring incidents, including planned flaring that occurred during maintenance work in February and several weeks in April and May.—
Bay City News Service,
The Mercury News,
22 Sep. 2024
-
Oil refining giant Valero must pay a $1.2 million penalty for major flaring incidents at its Benicia facility that spewed dark plumes of pollutants into neighborhoods, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Wednesday.—
Julie Johnson,
San Francisco Chronicle,
5 Apr. 2023
Adjective
-
Taipei, home to 2.6 million people, is one of the most scintillating metropoles in Asia.—
Livia Hengel,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2025
-
Against elites, his Dangerous Fenwick is just over 50 percent, but his goal share (11-1) is a scintillating 91 percent.—
Allan Mitchell,
New York Times,
26 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Winking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/winking. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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