as in indications
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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Recent Examples of inklings
Louisa, all the producers and the writers are putting little inklings that are showing these sprinkles of just who John Tucker is that are going to snowball into things.
—
Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 13 May 2026
The decision came in mid-March after catching inklings of the shutdown's impacts.
—Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 6 Apr. 2026
Although theorists already had inklings that a magnetar’s tempestuous birth might help explain superluminous supernovae, clinching the case proved difficult.
—Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 11 Mar. 2026
As inklings of Hudson Williams‘ potential Saturday Night Live cameo percolated in the days leading up to his Heated Rivalry co-star Connor Storrie‘s debut hosting gig, the Canadian actor glided onto Studio 8H ice during a sketch.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 28 Feb. 2026
Even before the photo, members had inklings their search histories were being monitored by the DOJ, which on Monday began allowing lawmakers to review unredacted versions of the files.
—Rebecca Beitsch, The Hill, 12 Feb. 2026
Almost 25 years ago, when the Department of Homeland Security was first proposed, there were inklings, even among supporters, that things might someday come to this.
—Ta-Nehisi Coates, Vanity Fair, 26 Jan. 2026
Then Kilmartin defuses any lingering judgmental inklings the audience may retain by warning that many of them will become single parents one day.
—John Roy, Vulture, 13 Jan. 2026
However, researchers had inklings that there were other mechanisms to tone down immune responses, ones outside the thymus.
—Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 6 Oct. 2025
Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 13 May 2026
The decision came in mid-March after catching inklings of the shutdown's impacts.
—Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 6 Apr. 2026
Although theorists already had inklings that a magnetar’s tempestuous birth might help explain superluminous supernovae, clinching the case proved difficult.
—Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 11 Mar. 2026
As inklings of Hudson Williams‘ potential Saturday Night Live cameo percolated in the days leading up to his Heated Rivalry co-star Connor Storrie‘s debut hosting gig, the Canadian actor glided onto Studio 8H ice during a sketch.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 28 Feb. 2026
Even before the photo, members had inklings their search histories were being monitored by the DOJ, which on Monday began allowing lawmakers to review unredacted versions of the files.
—Rebecca Beitsch, The Hill, 12 Feb. 2026
Almost 25 years ago, when the Department of Homeland Security was first proposed, there were inklings, even among supporters, that things might someday come to this.
—Ta-Nehisi Coates, Vanity Fair, 26 Jan. 2026
Then Kilmartin defuses any lingering judgmental inklings the audience may retain by warning that many of them will become single parents one day.
—John Roy, Vulture, 13 Jan. 2026
However, researchers had inklings that there were other mechanisms to tone down immune responses, ones outside the thymus.
—Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 6 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inklings
Noun
-
Keytruda alone has 44 indications and generated more than $30 billion in sales for Merck last year.—
Angelica Peebles,
CNBC,
31 May 2026
-
The results showed that the vehicle moves stably on sand, however, the experiments also spotlighted clear indications for improvements, Schmidt says.—
Leonard David,
Space.com,
31 May 2026
Noun
-
Juan Francisco Magdaleno Gomez A T-Mobile receipt with the surname Gomez and a notebook with an email address provided clues to the identity of a man whose body was found on June 28, 2022.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 June 2026
-
But even though police have not identified a suspect or disclosed a motive, there are enough clues to give us some inkling about what transpired.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
The gold bar could be found after any clue, organizers said, with additional hints being released throughout the summer, gradually making the location of the gold easier to identify.—
Mustafa Qadri,
CNN Money,
2 June 2026
-
The space uses deep greens, wood, bronze touches, and hints of kelp forests to create a warm and distinctive atmosphere.—
Jim Dobson,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
The device guides the insects using ultraviolet light and vibration cues.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
30 May 2026
-
Daylength is one of the most reliable environmental cues available to an organism.—
John Drake,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
There’s also a useful guide to Lisbon with some genuinely off-radar suggestions.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
Elon Musk, Elizabeth Warren and lots of policy wonks have suggestions to help workers hit by automation.—
Shira Ovide,
Washington Post,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
While Breez grew up immersed in South Florida boating culture, Gone became interested in what the lifestyle brand reveals about broader ideas of belonging and the balance of power.—
Michelle F. Solomon,
Miami Herald,
4 June 2026
-
Ongoing facilities master planning that focuses on capital investments and integrates community ideas into the future of existing buildings can minimize disruptions and build trust with communities affected.—
Julia McWilliams,
The Conversation,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inklings.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inklings. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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