1
2
3
as in gleamed
to shoot forth bursts of light
fireflies winking in the darkness beyond our campfire
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in ignored
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
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 winked
Mesh styles made a return in pointy-toe kitten-heel pumps in neutral colors while the Babouche design was reinterpreted in a python print or black satin that winked also to comfy red carpet moments.
—
Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2025
The last ember of Rope A winked out.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
With both drugs, the alignment of brain waves shifted in similar ways as the animals’ consciousness waned and then winked out.
—Big Think, 20 Aug. 2025
Evelyn took his hand, smiled and winked her green eyes at him.
—Literary Hub, 17 June 2025
Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2025
The last ember of Rope A winked out.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
With both drugs, the alignment of brain waves shifted in similar ways as the animals’ consciousness waned and then winked out.
—Big Think, 20 Aug. 2025
Evelyn took his hand, smiled and winked her green eyes at him.
—Literary Hub, 17 June 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for winked
Verb
-
Similarly, during the 2013 shutdown, public sentiment blinked against both Congress and the president, with Republicans in Congress absorbing a heavier share of the blame.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Oct. 2025
-
The doe’s eyes blinked on either side of a spindly trunk.—
Devon O’Neil,
Outside,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
My astrologer’s eyes twinkled with infuriating delight.—
Jessie Rosen,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Finn’s eyes, wide and wonderful, twinkled under the Mile High moonlight as the young girl took the stage for the first time.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
21 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
An abundance of kitschy wall decorations (fuzzy dice, fake flowers, party streamers) gleamed under flashing lights, casting the room in lurid shades of pink and green.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
26 Sep. 2025
-
Using Essie’s Good as Gold layered with Lights Lacquer glitter, the team achieved nails that gleamed like jewelry.—
Essence,
Essence,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In a separate statement to Whittier Daily News, Rowley claimed that the city had ignored complaints about upraised sidewalks caused by tree roots for years, and stated the city had not implemented adequate inspection protocols.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Kim Kardashian's refusal to watch Fatal Attraction is not going to be ignored by Kris Jenner, thank you very much!—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The Babycatcher looked up at the sky and squinted.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Tanuvasa flashed a big smile and soon disappeared from view with teammates under the bleachers and into the BYU locker room.—
Mitch Sherman,
New York Times,
26 Oct. 2025
-
Since July 15, the Oscillator has not flashed either overbought or oversold, the longest stretch in this more normal territory in at least 20 years.—
Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Chalk dust glinted like pollen or asbestos in the sunshine coming through the window.—
Rivka Galchen,
New Yorker,
21 Sep. 2025
-
Pans, scoured, hung from hooks; knives glinted in ascending size.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
If the flame flickered or bent, air movement was present, indicating a draft.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 Oct. 2025
-
This summer, Kwame Nkrumah’s transatlantic legacy flickered back into view when Zohran Mamdani won the Democratic primary in the New York City mayoral race.—
Kelefa Sanneh,
New Yorker,
6 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Winked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/winked. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share