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
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Recent Examples of blinking
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
Berger stares with him, barely blinking.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2025
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
Berger stares with him, barely blinking.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blinking
Verb
-
Formula One is headed to the Lion City’s Marina Bay Street Circuit to compete under the twinkling stars and lights for the Singapore Grand Prix.—
Madeline Coleman,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
-
The twinkling synth lines and thumping four-on-the-floor pattern create a groove as irresistible as the woman Iwar yearns for.—
Heran Mamo,
Billboard,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Albon climbed out, squinting, as the team and officials continued to fight the fire.—
Alex Harrington,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Berners-Lee, squinting, wasn’t so sure.—
Julian Lucas,
New Yorker,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Bin Laden outlasted Bellevue, too, before succumbing.—
Ben McGrath,
New Yorker,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Police say that she was shot in the neck by a rifle, surviving long enough to make it to a nearby resident’s front door in an apparent attempt to seek help just a few minutes before succumbing to her injury.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
At the end of a disastrous season, the New York Mets are staring at a lot of obstacles.—
Jackson Roberts,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Sep. 2025
-
The teacher noticed Aburto Guzman take his laptop out of his red backpack, place it on the table and begin staring outside the window, according to an interview with police.—
Noe Padilla,
IndyStar,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Dach has had a strong preseason, showing off his physicality in his first two games (something the Blackhawks don’t have a lot of in their lineup) and flashing some skill with a goal Tuesday against the Detroit Red Wings.—
Scott Powers,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Another violent case happened later in June in Delaware, after police say a vehicle with flashing police lights pulled over another car in the historic shipbuilding town of Milton.—
Allison Gordon,
CNN Money,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Even something as basic as submitting documents to the correct immigration judge has become more challenging, Cartwright said.—
Noe Padilla,
IndyStar,
29 Sep. 2025
-
The pick underscores China’s steady shift over the past decade of submitting large-scale historical narratives with potent national symbolism instead of the arthouse human dramas that more regularly win the country’s filmmakers acclaim overseas.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Teresa could be seen gazing up at her husband, placing a hand under her stomach.—
Hannah Sacks,
PEOPLE,
23 Sep. 2025
-
Stay here for several breaths, sending the tailbone high, gazing toward the navel, and pressing your heels gently toward the mat.—
Julia Eskins,
Outside,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Astronomers had long suspected the flickering light came from patchy clouds.—
Sharmila Kuthunur,
Space.com,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Flame type One of the best aspects of ordinary candles is their flickering flame.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
30 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Blinking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blinking. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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