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
Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2026
Students in the class this semester are redesigning the AI agent to smooth out some kinks, and Ipeirotis plans to use it in all his future classes.
—Jocelyn Gecker, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2026
Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Jan. 2026
The container should be big enough to accommodate the roots without bending or kinking them.
—Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for kink
Noun
The Marlins started testing this strategy in the minors at the beginning of the 2025 season, working through the kinks before debuting it in the majors in mid-September.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2026
Students in the class this semester are redesigning the AI agent to smooth out some kinks, and Ipeirotis plans to use it in all his future classes.
—Jocelyn Gecker, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2026
Verb
Each attachment can connect to an extra-long, 22-foot hose that doesn’t kink, and is flexible enough to easily maneuver around obstacles and corners.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Jan. 2026
The container should be big enough to accommodate the roots without bending or kinking them.
—Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for kink
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kink
Noun
-
In the prodromal phase, infected people have vague flu-like symptoms, often fever, fatigue, headache, body aches, abdominal cramps, and gastrointestinal disturbances.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
8 May 2026
-
The Star spoke to former KU guard Elmarko Jackson about Peterson’s full-body cramps at the NCAA Tournament.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
Many of his later programs have been capped by a coda in which the tricks of the trade are laid bare—no trick being more vital than that of extreme patience, with camera operators waiting days, or even weeks, for the right cub, or pup, or fledgling, or froglet, to show up.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
8 May 2026
-
There is not a whole lot to chuckle about these days, and her column does the trick for me every week.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
Washington was never meant to be an anthology of presidential whims.—
Israel Melendez Ayala,
Time,
6 May 2026
-
Farming has always been a challenging endeavor, one that operates at the whim of external forces but with little margin for setbacks.—
The Virginian Pilot And Daily Press Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 May 2026
Verb
-
Star ribbons loop across the sun.—
Brenda Hillman,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
Start with a stripe down the middle, then mow in a figure eight to get that half-dark, half-light tuxedo look, or, my preferred method, loop around like a Zamboni until you're done.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
In 2022, the couple was involved in a serious car accident that required Hayley to get four stitches on her forehead.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
3 May 2026
-
The gradual acceleration built over days and stitches.—
John Romano,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 May 2026
Noun
-
Local beers and thoughtful twists on classic cocktails like the Rum Fashioned.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 May 2026
-
New twists in case Among their many requests, Jones’ legal team is asking the court to dismiss the murder charge.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
Watching this revival, I was struck by how badly Willy’s image of success has warped his sons.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
4 May 2026
-
The sequoia ecosystem is like a little bit of Humboldt County warped into the East Bay.—
John Metcalfe,
Mercury News,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
That realization has led some investors to examine assets with different characteristics.—
Matt Emma,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
-
While acknowledging that antisemites may have good characteristics—a loving husband, a generous and conscientious citizen—Sartre claimed that their hatred ultimately defines them.—
Livia Gershon,
JSTOR Daily,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Kink.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kink. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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