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
Relevance
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
Cameron Teague Robinson, New York Times, 28 Sep. 2025
So far, there have been six major build events this year that bring manufacturing employees from across GM’s operations to the virtual world to develop techniques and manage kinks on pre-pre-production vehicles.
—Jackie Charniga, Freep.com, 24 Sep. 2025
That’s why finding the best wavy hair products to enhance your kinks without weighing them down or leaving them frizzy feels like striking gold.
—Brigitt Earley, Glamour, 23 Sep. 2025
Plus, the year’s biggest hotel openings — like the Romeo Roma and Orient Express La Minerva — have now had a few months to iron out their kinks.
—Nikki Ekstein, Boston Herald, 21 Sep. 2025
As the rest of the ladies get foot massages for Julia, who apparently is coming forward with her kinks, Alexia and Stephanie pair off and go chat in the mud room.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 12 Sep. 2025
These kinks can move around and, in the right conditions, behave just like atoms.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 9 Sep. 2025
The Knicks’ core remains intact, and these long trips are where bonds are forged and kinks get worked out.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 18 Aug. 2025
And in the time since the bankruptcy, Northvolt’s remaining staff have continued to work out engineering kinks in the facilities.
—Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 12 Aug. 2025
Verb
And the Buckeyes are working through some kinks in an offense that turns from conservative to aggressive in random segments of the game.
—Cameron Teague Robinson, New York Times, 28 Sep. 2025
So far, there have been six major build events this year that bring manufacturing employees from across GM’s operations to the virtual world to develop techniques and manage kinks on pre-pre-production vehicles.
—Jackie Charniga, Freep.com, 24 Sep. 2025
That’s why finding the best wavy hair products to enhance your kinks without weighing them down or leaving them frizzy feels like striking gold.
—Brigitt Earley, Glamour, 23 Sep. 2025
Plus, the year’s biggest hotel openings — like the Romeo Roma and Orient Express La Minerva — have now had a few months to iron out their kinks.
—Nikki Ekstein, Boston Herald, 21 Sep. 2025
As the rest of the ladies get foot massages for Julia, who apparently is coming forward with her kinks, Alexia and Stephanie pair off and go chat in the mud room.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 12 Sep. 2025
These kinks can move around and, in the right conditions, behave just like atoms.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 9 Sep. 2025
The Knicks’ core remains intact, and these long trips are where bonds are forged and kinks get worked out.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 18 Aug. 2025
And in the time since the bankruptcy, Northvolt’s remaining staff have continued to work out engineering kinks in the facilities.
—Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 12 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kinks
Noun
-
And if not for leaving for seven plays in the fourth quarter with cramps, Dowdle almost certainly would have broken Williams’ mark.—
Joseph Person,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
-
Some people consider dark chocolate a natural remedy for period cramps and pain.—
Chelsea Rae Bourgeois,
Health,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Whether kids are learning tricks, competing with friends, or just marveling at the floating string, ZipString delivers the perfect mix of science, wonder and fun.—
Emily Glover,
Parents,
2 Oct. 2025
-
For more tips, tricks and the latest updates, make sure to sign up for our weekly newsletter.—
Janet W. Lee,
NPR,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Rather than spending millions in a relentless quest to solve the problems wrought by Coors Field, the Rockies appear to have capitulated to its whims.—
Andy McCullough,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
-
One Battle also exemplifies where Hall’s career has taken her, which is to say across genres, moods, and Hollywood whims.—
Matthew Jacobs,
Vulture,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
This is one of those scheduling quirks that just happened to work this way.—
Mac Engel
October 2,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 Oct. 2025
-
The Indianapolis Museum of Art has a penchant for combining classical beauty with modern quirks, and that takes center stage at the Clowes Pavilion.—
Domenica Bongiovanni,
IndyStar,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Despite some promising high-concept notions such as an intergalactic federation, mystic beings, parasitic species, a sentient interstellar craft, and Slipstream FTL quantum mechanics, seemingly inevitable creative differences arose as the show progressed.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
2 Oct. 2025
-
The department’s content warnings include mild romantic situations and notions of matchmaking, gentle social satire, occasional passive-aggressive dialogue and very mild suggestive themes (but nothing explicit).—
Eric E. Harrison,
Arkansas Online,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
As a professor of science education, one of my goals while preparing future teachers is to introduce them to the characteristics of scientific knowledge and how it is developed.—
Ryan Summers,
The Conversation,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Typical eldest daughter characteristics include being responsible, independent, empathic, caring, a perfectionist, stressed and anxious, the Cleveland Clinic notes.—
Madeline Mitchell,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Or at least have the option of several lives other than their own not being governed by the vagaries of the football industry?—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Owning and running the restaurant also meant caring for the vast, aging Foster’s collection while managing the vagaries of heat, cold, humidity and stovetop.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The text, too, warps the truth.—
Jillian Steinhauer,
New Yorker,
5 Sep. 2025
-
The massive object warps spacetime and thus the path of light from that background source.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
27 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Kinks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kinks. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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