squint 1 of 2

verb

Definition of squintnext
as in to stare
to take a look with the eyes narrowed (as because of difficulty seeing) He squinted in her direction, but couldn't make her out with the sun behind her.

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squint

2 of 2

noun

1
as in strabismus
British difficulty in seeing resulting from improper alignment of the eyes The child was born with a squint that was eventually corrected through surgery.

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2
as in stare
chiefly British an especially brief instance of looking Take a squint at this!

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of squint
Verb
Getting there requires a bit of squinting. — John Hollinger, New York Times, 20 June 2026 And though the wave is turning, Ahn is already squinting at the horizon for the next one. — Joshua Encinias, IndieWire, 17 June 2026
Noun
And his method is when in doubt, squint. — Beatrice Verhoeven, HollywoodReporter, 6 Jan. 2026 First, your jack-o-lantern's eyes start to squint. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 11 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for squint
Recent Examples of Synonyms for squint
  1. stare
  2. strabismus
  3. gaze
  4. peer
  5. astigmatism
  6. glare
  7. glance
  8. vision
Verb
  • But in keeping with its protagonist’s difficulty staring at his feelings head-on, The Vampire Lestat—and the marketing that preceded its premiere—doesn’t start with ballads or sensual odes to far-reaching love.
    — Hannah Giorgis Yohannes, Vanity Fair, 13 July 2026
  • From an underwater viewing area, Chinita Head, 52, stared past the glass alongside her 6-year-old nephew, Christian Walker.
    — Finnegan Belleau, Chicago Tribune, 13 July 2026
Definition of stare
Noun
  • The teen now hopes that EYEVA could one day help those with strabismus on a large scale, and perhaps prevent many from needing invasive corrective surgery.
    — Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 26 Apr. 2026
  • Barrel Cards The barrel card exercise can help improve symptoms of strabismus (crossed eyes).
    — Laura Schober, Health, 12 Feb. 2025
Definition of strabismus
Noun
  • The visual language of the album grounds the spiritual core of the record in Cuba—not Cuba, as envisioned by the foreign gaze or in diaspora, but Cuba, the island and its water, where movement is intrinsic to its border.
    — Stefanie Fernández, Pitchfork, 3 July 2026
  • Flip your gaze upward, and the second bed is right there, nestled up against the headliner.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 3 July 2026
Definition of gaze
Verb
  • The operando neutron powder diffraction technique was used to peer inside the battery interface.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 13 July 2026
  • Neil lifted his eyes and peered out at the sea, the sky now calmed, the air flinty and strange.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 July 2026
Definition of peer
Noun
  • Keratoconus often causes high degrees of irregular astigmatism, which is an imperfection in the curvature of the cornea that leads to blurry vision.
    — Neelam Patadia, The Conversation, 27 May 2026
  • Benjamin Franklin would invent bifocals in 1874, Thomas Young would spot the uneven curvature of the cornea (astigmatism) in 1801, and steel wire would be developed in metal frames after 1837.
    — Daniel Fusch, Ascend Agency, 11 Nov. 2025
Definition of astigmatism
Noun
  • Sunglasses for your little one can protect their eyes and reduce glare—just make sure that the label states that the lenses block at least 99% of ultraviolet (UVA and UVB) radiation.
    — Nancy Mattia, Parents, 8 July 2026
  • In the glare of the intense summer sun, the Indian Pacific had a reflective, chromatic glow.
    — Justin Meneguzzi, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026
Definition of glare
Verb
  • With less than 10 minutes on the clock, Messi delivered an outswinging corner from the left that Alexis Mac Allister glanced into the far corner.
    — Stuart James, New York Times, 12 July 2026
  • An object does not need to be touched, glanced at or even unlocked to draw on the mind’s limited capacity.
    — Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
Definition of glance
Noun
  • Anyone who notices flashes, new floaters or a shadow in their vision should seek urgent eye care.
    — Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 14 July 2026
  • At a time when Americans disagree deeply over the meaning of citizenship, belonging and education, summer camps remain places where values and visions of America as inclusive or exclusive are communicated to young people.
    — Seth T. Kannarr, Fortune, 13 July 2026
Definition of vision

Browse Nearby Words

squinny
squint
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Cite this Entry

“Squint.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/squint. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on squint

Nglish: Translation of squint for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about squint

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