1
as in twinkling
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
Relevance
2
as in squinting
to rapidly open and close one's eyes
I blinked for a few seconds after the camera flashed
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in succumbing
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in staring
to look long and hard in wonder or surprise
stood blinking at the ridiculous scene before him in utter disbelief
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 blinking
The camera then switches from the chaos of the puppy, to the kitten—who is sitting in a relaxed position, blinking slowly, and staring almost disdainfully at the wriggling puppy.
—
Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
There are two blinking lights on the front of its boxy body to approximate wide, moony pupils.
—Scottie Andrew, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2025
Beyoncé went from disco-diva futurism on Renaissance to cowboy boots on Cowboy Carter without blinking.
—Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 1 Oct. 2025
Small things, like individual eyelashes or grains of sand, often get flushed out on their own through a combination of tearing up and blinking, per Mount Sinai.
—Hannah Yasharoff, USA Today, 29 Sep. 2025
Bohumila stepped into the pub, blinking into the dark and smoke.
—Zuzana Říhová, Literary Hub, 26 Sep. 2025
By springtime, the lingering sight of the giant artificial tree — still decked out in blinking lights and a red bow — was drawing attention on social media and causing concern for the mall's future.
—Jc Reindl, Freep.com, 26 Sep. 2025
Aniston asked, blinking in disbelief.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 20 Sep. 2025
Eden credits Gene Nelson, who directed the pilot, for coming up with the blinking part.
—Carson Blackwelder, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2025
Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
There are two blinking lights on the front of its boxy body to approximate wide, moony pupils.
—Scottie Andrew, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2025
Beyoncé went from disco-diva futurism on Renaissance to cowboy boots on Cowboy Carter without blinking.
—Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 1 Oct. 2025
Small things, like individual eyelashes or grains of sand, often get flushed out on their own through a combination of tearing up and blinking, per Mount Sinai.
—Hannah Yasharoff, USA Today, 29 Sep. 2025
Bohumila stepped into the pub, blinking into the dark and smoke.
—Zuzana Říhová, Literary Hub, 26 Sep. 2025
By springtime, the lingering sight of the giant artificial tree — still decked out in blinking lights and a red bow — was drawing attention on social media and causing concern for the mall's future.
—Jc Reindl, Freep.com, 26 Sep. 2025
Aniston asked, blinking in disbelief.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 20 Sep. 2025
Eden credits Gene Nelson, who directed the pilot, for coming up with the blinking part.
—Carson Blackwelder, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blinking
Verb
-
Soon, resorts across the region will deck their halls — and cabanas — with holiday menus, twinkling lights and family-friendly festivities that make staying close to home feel like a gift in itself.—
David Dickstein,
Oc Register,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Gather friends and family in a cozy winter yurt, complete with fur blankets, warm drinks, twinkling lights, and festive bites and cocktails.—
Symiah Dorsey,
Southern Living,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
OmniBook x Flip, a 2-in-1 laptop that can do it all, featuring a spacious 16-inch display with a sharp 2K resolution that will never leave you squinting, pinching to zoom, or switching orientations to better see what’s on your screen.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
17 Oct. 2025
-
That said, blurry vision, squinting, and other factors could indicate a need to update a prescription.—
Wyles Daniel,
USA Today,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
There seemed to be an element of sadomasochistic play in their relationship, of withholding and succumbing, that contravenes the popular sense of an unremitting dominant-submissive dynamic.—
Daphne Merkin,
The Atlantic,
31 Oct. 2025
-
To the public eye, this might look like scientists are succumbing to groupthink and an unreasonable resistance to any new ideas.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The pair ignored him and continued to walk away, leaving Frank staring in their direction for several seconds.—
Jay Harris,
New York Times,
3 Nov. 2025
-
There’s a picture of me, not quite a year old, in a blue sailor suit and a red ribbon tied around my neck, staring avidly at a picture book.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Each day brings more permanent residents, arriving in black hearses trailing solemn convoys of hazard-flashing cars to a place still served by generations of locals who cut granite memorials or pour sympathetic whiskeys.—
Chris Kenning,
USA Today,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Over ominous, throbbing music, the lights start flashing, the tension starts building, and then, finally, Godzilla enters from stage right.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Tomer-Yerushalmi is also suspected of allegedly misleading the High Court of Justice, and senior military and justice officials, about the leak of the footage and even submitting a false affidavit to the court.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Miami’s top Catholic leader Archbishop Thomas Wenski, who turned 75 this month, will be submitting a retirement letter to the Vatican.—
Lauren Costantino,
Miami Herald,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
But gazing at the field of red clay just feet away from his front door gives him the feeling that Charlotte’s growth is climbing on top of him.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Dismukes commented, while gazing into Padilla's eyes.—
Nicholas Rice,
PEOPLE,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
By the time it was all set up, the whole cold, disintegrating place was threaded with lights and lines, flickering everywhere, black and red, the sheer quantity somehow terrifying and embracing at once.—
Blair Braverman,
Outside,
28 Oct. 2025
-
Guests report nurses walking through the halls pushing wheelchairs, dark figures, cold spots, smells like cherry tobacco without a source, flickering lights and visitors feeling ill in certain areas of the hotel such as the old hospital wings and the morgue (now the site of the spa).—
Noreen Kompanik,
Boston Herald,
26 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Blinking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blinking. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share