Synonyms of blink

blink 1 of 2

verb

ˈbliŋk 

1

as in to twinkle

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

• twinkle
• flicker
• flash
• wink
• sparkle
• glint
• flare
• glisten
• glimmer
• glance
• shimmer
• glitter
• spark
• scintillate
• glister
• coruscate
• spangle

2

as in to squint

to rapidly open and close one's eyes

I blinked for a few seconds after the camera flashed

Synonyms & Similar Words

• squint
• wink
• flutter
• bat

3

as in to succumb

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• succumb
• concede
• submit
• bow
• budge
• surrender
• relent
• quit
• capitulate
• give in
• knuckle under
• yield
• throw in the towel
• say uncle
• acquiesce
• defer

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• resist
• fight
• face
• contend
• meet
• object
• confront
• breast
• oppose
• counter
• defy
• combat
• hold off
• withstand
• repel
• battle
• thwart

4

as in to stare

to look long and hard in wonder or surprise

stood blinking at the ridiculous scene before him in utter disbelief

Synonyms & Similar Words

• stare
• gaze
• gawk
• peer
• gape
• glare
• eye
• gawp
• goggle
• rubberneck
• watch
• fixate
• gloat
• glower
• ogle
• leer
• peruse
• consider
• observe
• stare down
• pore (over)
• regard
• study
• outstare
• outface

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• glimpse
• glance
• scan
• peek
• peep
• dip (into)
• browse
• wink (at)

blink

2 of 2

noun

as in twinkle

Related Words

• twinkle
• glow
• gleam
• flicker
• glare
• glint
• sparkle
• glimmer
• shimmer
• irradiation
• glisten
• illumination
• sheen
• luminance
• luminescence
• gloss
• luster
• luminosity
• polish
• brilliance
• shine
• radiance
• finish
• glaze
• iridescence
• burnish
• refulgence
• radiancy

Dissimilar Words

• dimness
• dullness
• flatness
• drabness
• dirtiness
• paleness
• grayness
• gloom
• cloudiness
• dinginess
• obscurity
• somberness
• murkiness
• obscureness

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of blink

Verb

Alongside her cornflower blue Gabriela Hearst pantsuit, the Princess of Wales wore a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it accessory that both her daughter Princess Charlotte and bride-to-be Taylor Swift would approve of. — Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 3 July 2026

Mounted atop the temporary wall were two sets of traffic lights, a pair of side-by-side green lights (currently off) and a set of red lights, now blinking. — Robert Pearlman, ArsTechnica, 1 July 2026

Noun

Though editor Yorgos Mavropsaridis (a Yorgos Lanthimos regular) cuts the film with brisk concision, there’s also a welcome temporal elasticity here — the sense that life can change in the blink of an eye, but also stall for undefined passages. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 19 June 2026

In the blink of an eye, their errors led to a swift Tunisia counter-attack. — Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 17 June 2026

Phrases Containing blink

• blink (at)
• on the blink