1
as in cramps
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 tricks
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 whims
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of kinks
Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Jan. 2026
Councilmembers Sean Elo-Rivera and Kent Lee, who initially backed the fees, urged Gloria to pause them until the kinks are worked out of the system.
—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Jan. 2026
The hope is that administrators worked out all the kinks from the last time the school system went remote, which resulted in a systemwide crash.
—Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026
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
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
Subscribers can search for stories by specific tropes and kinks or browse trending stories by Quinn Creators.
—Glamour, 27 Dec. 2025
Noun
My now-husband and I were newly a couple and still working out the kinks and crumples in an evolving relationship.
—Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Jan. 2026
Councilmembers Sean Elo-Rivera and Kent Lee, who initially backed the fees, urged Gloria to pause them until the kinks are worked out of the system.
—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Jan. 2026
The hope is that administrators worked out all the kinks from the last time the school system went remote, which resulted in a systemwide crash.
—Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026
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
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
Subscribers can search for stories by specific tropes and kinks or browse trending stories by Quinn Creators.
—Glamour, 27 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kinks
Noun
-
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
-
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
-
Our focus on our own ingroup makes our brains play tricks on us.—
Dev Patnaik,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Just another one of his show-stopping tricks.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Florida law should not be conformed to Israel’s whims on that matter.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
26 Jan. 2026
-
But it may also be remembered as the moment where Europe broke away from the United States, exasperated by a world run solely by hard American power at the whims of an ever imperial presidency.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Your quirks, your opinions, your specific way of seeing the world, that's your competitive advantage.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The show is equally witty about the quirks of the 21st century movie business.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
There is also the eternal question of whether designers should create clothes for truly living in, or whether they should be encouraged to think big and present more complicated pieces that challenge everyday notions of style and taste.—
Kati Chitrakorn,
CNN Money,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Online, some drew parallels between the heartwrenching moment, which muddies up notions of consent, to an earlier scene in the series, where Carol reveals her mother sent her to conversion therapy camp.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
25 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Dry all surfaces completely and replace knobs, drip pans, and coils back on the stove.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
14 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Those characteristics were likely part of Hamid’s makeup early on.—
Allie Garfinkle,
Fortune,
31 Jan. 2026
-
What survivors have in common Those who survive the first two years and eventually thrive tend to share a few characteristics.—
Allen Buchanan,
Oc Register,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Anyone who has watched Survivor knows vagaries are the enemy of success, and ultimately the ringleader of Glam, Ciara, still goes down this week.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
31 Jan. 2026
-
That’s your choice to prioritize more dependable success over bragging rights for coaxing a half dead super-choice plant through the vagaries of a yo-yo bit of winter.—
Paul Cappiello,
Louisville Courier Journal,
16 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Kinks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kinks. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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