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inkling

noun

ˈiŋ-kliŋ How to pronounce inkling (audio)
Definition of inklingnext
as in indication
a slight or indirect pointing to something (as a solution or explanation) did not give the slightest inkling that he was planning to quit

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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 inkling Throughout this episode, there are inklings that the Keenes may still be themselves, deep down. — Noel Murray, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026 The first inklings of this emerge when camp director Beth (Janeane Garofalo) meets astrophysicist Professor Henry Newman (David Hyde Pierce), who is vacationing in a cabin near the camp. — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 20 Aug. 2026 Inserting the insertor requires foreconceit, an inkling of how a sentence or a plot is going to develop. — Literary Hub, 18 Aug. 2026 This inkling, combined with the broader lack of effective treatments, inspired a small pilot trial involving 21 women. — Alexandra Pattillo, Scientific American, 5 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for inkling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inkling
  1. indication
  2. clue
  3. hint
  4. cue
  5. suggestion
Noun
  • As consumers use emerging tools like AI to explore different looks and try on silhouettes, this data is an early indication of the looks capturing consumers’ attention throughout the year.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Igoe said there was no indication the suspect was armed but noted that a vehicle could be used as a deadly weapon.
    — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of indication
Noun
  • Swifties searched for Easter eggs in the SVU sketch, indicating there might be clues about her next album.
    — Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Some are caught on doorbell or security cameras that offer vital clues; others are taken within sight of witnesses who can point police toward a potential abductor.
    — Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of clue
Noun
  • And maybe – just maybe – the first hint that the Florida Gators are starting to look like the Florida Gators again.
    — Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Process until very smooth and fluffy with no hint of graininess (this can take up to a minute), stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl once or twice if necessary.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of hint
Noun
  • The robot can then use a calming cue and dispense a treat when appropriate.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Pick a single cue (closing the laptop, changing clothes, stepping outside) and pair it with one deliberate practice.
    — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of cue
Noun
  • The lasting sign of our passage was a suggestion of movement, a sinuous shape of memory in the grass, like the game trail of some new, mechanical beast burst out of evolutionary time.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
  • The suggestion that her speech came from a lack of effort or support is particularly difficult for Jones given her own childhood.
    — Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of suggestion

Browse Nearby Words

inking
inkling
inklings
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Cite this Entry

“Inkling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inkling. Accessed 23 Sep. 2026.

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