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
Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 10 Jan. 2026
The on-again, off-again couple have been dating for over a decade and have (mostly) worked out the kinks of joking about their relationship in public.
—Emma Banks, InStyle, 10 Jan. 2026
Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Jan. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for kink
Noun
For wellness finds, pick up a heated neck massager that can work out kinks from your couch, or an TheraFace LED face mask to improve your complexion, also from your couch.
—Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 10 Jan. 2026
The on-again, off-again couple have been dating for over a decade and have (mostly) worked out the kinks of joking about their relationship in public.
—Emma Banks, InStyle, 10 Jan. 2026
Verb
The container should be big enough to accommodate the roots without bending or kinking them.
—Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Jan. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for kink
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kink
Noun
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The Jayhawks were down to basically five players the final 20 minutes because of the recurring cramps issue that limited Darryn Peterson to 3 minutes, 14 seconds of play in the second half and what’s believed to be a knee bruise that benched Elmarko Jackson the entire second half.—
Gary Bedore,
Kansas City Star,
1 Feb. 2026
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After two riveting semifinals, in which Alcaraz managed cramps and a rising Alexander Zverev to win in five sets, before Djokovic stunned Jannik Sinner with a crashing baseline performance, fate has delivered a simple equation.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
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So much grunt routes through a trick all-wheel-drive system that actually uses a two-speed gearbox ahead of the engine between the front wheels, in addition to a more traditional eight-speed dual-clutch transaxle routing power to the rears.—
Michael Teo Van Runkle,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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Our mother figures and friends can serve as the best sources of inspiration for beauty tips and tricks, thanks to many years of trial and error.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The Italians fought and lost to Robert Moses’s wrecking whims; Puerto Ricans who could fled to Jersey for the privilege of a backyard.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
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The food finally lands with the guests, their dumb whims having been appeased.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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On warm afternoons, residents float, unwind or gather along the edge, while kids loop through again and again.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
1 Feb. 2026
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Instead of setting Orion up for an insertion into lunar orbit, the free-return trajectory will loop the spacecraft once around the moon on a figure-eight flight path back to Earth, ensuring the crew's return regardless of Orion's propulsion status, should unexpected issues crop up during flight.—
Josh Dinner,
Space.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Boquete’s medical clinics are well suited for routine appointments, minor injuries, basic emergency care, stitches, and other non-complex medical needs.—
Kathleen Peddicord,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
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The Parachute percale sheets in particular feel like luxurious, five-star hotel sheets thanks to their quality fabric and tight, neat stitches.—
Brandi Fuller,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Its twists are as shocking as those in a conventional thriller, and Cretton is a master of selling emotions and entire character arcs with a single shot.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 Jan. 2026
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But a huge twist reveals that Kilmartin’s cousin Michael Stirling—who becomes a love interest for Francesca in the later novels—has been gender-swapped to Michaela.—
Sophie Hanson,
StyleCaster,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But without Curry warping the defense, the Warriors just did not have the juice to pull out the improbable comeback.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
31 Jan. 2026
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The continuously hot water warped a PVC pipe on the building’s fourth floor, Greystar says.—
Paul Flahive,
Austin American Statesman,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Scientists continue to attempt to take snapshots of this primordial soup to understand the characteristics of quark-gluon plasma.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Rho-alpha differentiates itself through three characteristics.—
Janakiram MSV,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Kink.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kink. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
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