1
as in cramp
a painful sudden tightening of a muscle
got a kink in my neck from lying in that awkward position for too long
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in trick
an odd or peculiar habit
the boss's fondness for nicknames is one of those kinks that staffers just have to put up with
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in whim
a sudden impulsive and apparently unmotivated idea or action
whenever he got a kink in his head, he'd drop whatever he was doing to pursue this latest obsession
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of kink
Josh Dinner, Space.com, 2 Jan. 2026
Coil the Hose Keep your hose in good condition for the coming year by coiling it in large, loose loops to avoid kinks.
—Blythe Copeland, Martha Stewart, 31 Dec. 2025
Tristan Rutherford, Robb Report, 26 Sep. 2025
Traditional hoses will kink and coil, and can be really disruptive to an activity that should feel stress free.
—Wilder Davies, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for kink
Noun
SpaceX seems to have worked out much of the kinks developing the Super Heavy booster responsible for launching Starship — though a recent mishap of the booster's latest version did rupture during a pressurization test.
—Josh Dinner, Space.com, 2 Jan. 2026
Coil the Hose Keep your hose in good condition for the coming year by coiling it in large, loose loops to avoid kinks.
—Blythe Copeland, Martha Stewart, 31 Dec. 2025
Verb
To preserve the svelte look, rather than appearing boxy, the floor-to-ceiling glass panels on the upper deck are subtly kinked to maintain the racing lines.
—Tristan Rutherford, Robb Report, 26 Sep. 2025
Traditional hoses will kink and coil, and can be really disruptive to an activity that should feel stress free.
—Wilder Davies, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for kink
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kink
Noun
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Peterson has played limited minutes in the second halves of games since returning from his two-game absence also caused by cramps.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
13 Jan. 2026
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That included three or more loose stools within a 24-hour period, or what is more than normal for that specific person, or vomiting with one of the following symptoms – diarrhea, muscle aches, headaches, abdominal cramps or a fever.—
Steven Yablonski,
CBS News,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
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This dish will do the trick with crispy chicken and fresh zucchini tossed in a tender linguine with a robust lemon flavor.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
7 Jan. 2026
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But even an invitation to hang out again, perhaps paired with a gift card to a local lunch spot, could do the trick.—
Mandy Len Catron,
The Atlantic,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The Treasury market tends to move with the whims of Wall Street and not in lockstep with Fed policy.—
Greg Iacurci,Jessica Dickler,
CNBC,
12 Jan. 2026
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Hidden away from the rest of the first floor action, the primary bedroom was a place for Cece to indulge her most personal decorating whims.—
Betsy Cribb Watson,
Southern Living,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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If not, loop a beach neighborhood and call it joy.—
Eric Barton,
Sun Sentinel,
4 Jan. 2026
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Script is finding new life in after-school clubs where students can learn to loop and swoosh their handwriting.—
Karina Elwood,
Washington Post,
3 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The victim was taken to the hospital with two stab wounds to her back, and cuts on her arm and hand that authorities say required stitches, per prosecutors.—
Nicole Acosta,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
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After leaving the game, Garrity told reporters that Nimaka would need stitches for his injury, but is expected to be fine.—
Brendan Connelly,
Boston Herald,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Cash’s twist in Lost Lambs makes conspiracy a practice honed by young girls, the kinds of people at the center of Pizzagate and rap beefs and the Epstein files.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Jan. 2026
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Now there’s a new twist—Saks Global has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and luxury executive Geoffroy van Raemdonck will have the job of turning around the luxury retail group.—
Diane Brady,
Fortune,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Those pesky wet spots can cause mold and mildew growth, window condensation, warped wood furniture, and even damaged electronics.—
Caroline Lubinsky,
Martha Stewart,
7 Jan. 2026
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But an unexpected rain squall hit and by the time Lavis and Szczerbowski returned, the prop was warped out of shape.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
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But there are other factors that needled their way into the evolutionary development of dormancy characteristics.—
Paul Cappiello,
Louisville Courier Journal,
9 Jan. 2026
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There’s no single definition in our modern times, but experts generally agree on a few characteristics.—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Kink.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kink. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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