chinks 1 of 2

plural of chink
1
as in backs
a vulnerable point before the tournament she studied tapes of her chief rival, looking for the chink in her game

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2
as in fissures
an irregular usually narrow break in a surface created by pressure plugged the chinks in the walls with mortar

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chinks

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of chink
as in clinks
to make a repeated sharp light ringing sound in the breeze the flag's chain chinked against the flagpole

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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 chinks
Noun
The book is, in fact, a sober, evenhanded analysis of a field that, until recently, had few chinks in its armor. Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026 The result is a fiery and impassioned offering that finds the veteran fully engaged and intent on proving no chinks have been left in his armor despite his tenuous back-and-forth with his Compton counterpart. Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 15 May 2026 Does the bazaar allow for chinks in the kind of class barriers that would usually exist? Cressida Leyshon, New Yorker, 23 Nov. 2025 But after the break, the Americans started to find some chinks in the English armour. Peter Carline, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chinks
Noun
  • At scenic overlooks, people turn their backs to the landscape to stage a selfie photograph.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Speaking of dominating running backs, Kenneth Walker III, who came over from the Seahawks after winning Super Bowl MVP, looked like the best offseason addition.
    OutKick, FOXNews.com, 20 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Groundwater steadily rises through fissures in the limestone bedrock, providing the spring with a constant flow of pristine water.
    Savannah Born, Travel + Leisure, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Allegations expose fissures within SEIU Two law firms conducted separate investigations into Regan’s behavior at SEIU California, an umbrella group consisting of 17 local service unions.
    Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 15 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • As the bullet weight clinks and clacks along the bottom, bass will key in on your rig and follow it.
    Derek Horner, Outdoor Life, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Each robot, remotely operated, clinks glasses and gestures in unison, embodying the camaraderie and hope of the musical’s revolutionaries.
    Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 3 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • The most caustic people in the world often have the softest underbellies — at least if Alden Ehrenreich is playing them.
    Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 29 Apr. 2026
  • Cashmere is expensive because these goats produce a limited amount of this precious fiber, found on their underbellies, and the process of obtaining the wool is labor-intensive.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • For tighter spaces, a cotton swab or an old toothbrush can help lift residue and reach crevices.
    Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Because wicker has so many crevices in its woven design, thorough cleaning and even coverage are especially important for a comprehensive application on either real or synthetic wicker.
    Kristina McGuirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Much like a tuning fork, the resonator also rings when struck.
    Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Well, that promise now rings hollow in the ears of every TSA worker today.
    Hydrick Thomas, New York Daily News, 11 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Once Woll’s bratty vamp was through draining jugulars, the actress found a second signature role as Karen Page on Marvel’s Daredevil (2015–2018).
    Matt Cabral, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Kanal has borne the brunt of these rifts and was kept in financial limbo during those nearly two lame-duck years.
    Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 10 Sep. 2026
  • To Hazel Roberts, 18, a first-year student at Grand Canyon University who started a Turning Point chapter back in high school, these intraparty rifts are a painful reminder of why Kirk's leadership mattered.
    Elena Moore, NPR, 10 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Chinks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chinks. Accessed 24 Sep. 2026.

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