1
as in twinkles
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
3
as in succumbs
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 stares
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 blinks
Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 27 Feb. 2026
Maybe somebody blinks and the Rangers get a better result.
—Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Between scenes, for instance, the illuminated proscenium blinks ominously, as if in code.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 29 Jan. 2026
Every time the user blinks, their eyelid rubs against the PDMS contact lens.
—Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 12 Jan. 2026
No one blinks an eye today at the kind of vivacious, confident woman Margaret Avery portrayed in The Color Purple.
—Diedre Johnson, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Dec. 2025
Whichever side blinks is considered cowardly by the media, but probably not by the voters.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 10 Nov. 2025
The green Christmas light blinks in horror.
—Literary Hub, 7 Nov. 2025
In a YouTube video, the robot’s head glances around with a quizzical expression and blinks in a way that is eerily lifelike.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 22 Sep. 2025
Verb
Downtime on the set A few blinks later, crews wheeled in a larger-than-life, powder blue prop for the next episode and the contestants lined back up again, ready to take on a new task.
—Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 27 Feb. 2026
Maybe somebody blinks and the Rangers get a better result.
—Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Between scenes, for instance, the illuminated proscenium blinks ominously, as if in code.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 29 Jan. 2026
Every time the user blinks, their eyelid rubs against the PDMS contact lens.
—Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 12 Jan. 2026
No one blinks an eye today at the kind of vivacious, confident woman Margaret Avery portrayed in The Color Purple.
—Diedre Johnson, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Dec. 2025
Whichever side blinks is considered cowardly by the media, but probably not by the voters.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 10 Nov. 2025
The green Christmas light blinks in horror.
—Literary Hub, 7 Nov. 2025
In a YouTube video, the robot’s head glances around with a quizzical expression and blinks in a way that is eerily lifelike.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 22 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blinks
Verb
-
Meanwhile, Charles squints at the phone.—
Allegra Goodman,
New Yorker,
4 Jan. 2026
-
Wiesmair squints at his smartphone, which is logged on to a database of European moth species.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The Shakespearean classic focuses on Macbeth, a Scottish general who makes his prophecy of becoming king a reality but then succumbs to madness.—
Alyson Rodriguez,
Dallas Morning News,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Her sexuality is a source of conflict for her family, and the pressure leads to the painful breakup with her girlfriend, Rosie (Jess Gabor), who succumbs to family expectations.—
Robert Lang,
Deadline,
17 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Nearby, Ella Dalton stares into a copy of Normal People by Sally Rooney, and Mahi Kabra lounges by the hair-washing sinks holding A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara.—
Arden Fanning Andrews,
Vogue,
6 Mar. 2026
-
When Robbie first strokes the plush walls, her Cathy stares with the appropriate mix of awe and terror.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
These glows lasted up to three seconds, often moving from leaf to leaf.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Inside, a long mahogany counter glows beneath warm gold walls, where bartenders move with precision through a selection of classics and inventive cocktails built on bold spirits and house infusions.—
Melinda Sheckells,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Durbin flashes leather If Thursday was any indication, the Red Sox will be in good hands if Alex Cora decides to roll with Caleb Durbin as the club’s starting second baseman.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Your Roomba emits a chime and flashes its indicator ring or a Wi-Fi symbol.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Badlands might be a simple movie on the surface, but it's filled with little details, bits of lore, and cheeky winks many moviegoers appreciated.—
Fran Ruiz,
Space.com,
17 Feb. 2026
-
The hotel itself is a rhapsody in clean, modern design that subtly winks to the legion efforts behind it.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Sam, a food stylist, concedes that being in a wealthy suburban enclave may have led her to be a little more brash than usual.—
Nora DeLigter,
Curbed,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Going into Wednesday’s games, the Lakers rank 27th in opposing field goal percentage and 24th in defensive rating, an estimate of the amount of points a team concedes across a 100-possession span.—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Tuxedoed servers wear playing-card pins on their lapels; a slot machine in the entryway shaped like a life-size Doc Holliday gazes at diners with uncanny intensity.—
Helen Rosner,
New Yorker,
1 Mar. 2026
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Curving around the glistening, glacial Sarmiento Lake, an amphitheater of rooms gazes up at the Paine massif, with scenes constantly shifting depending on the time of day.—
Sarah Marshall,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Blinks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blinks. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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