as in peering
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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Recent Examples of squinting
Albon climbed out, squinting, as the team and officials continued to fight the fire.
—
Alex Harrington, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Berners-Lee, squinting, wasn’t so sure.
—Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2025
To see improvement requires at least some squinting.
—Pete Sampson, New York Times, 21 Sep. 2025
DiCaprio makes a great, vital has-been, squinting at the horrors around him in disbelief, but mostly, driven by the need to protect his child.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 18 Sep. 2025
The mother-son duo posed for photos, with Valentino adorably squinting from the bright lights of the cameras.
—Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2025
In it, the student’s beaming; Kirk is squinting into the sun.
—Rick Jervis, USA Today, 14 Sep. 2025
An overly wide eye may mean that your dog is feeling threatened, while a small or squinting eye may suggest fear or stress.
—Dawn Kovell, Mercury News, 19 Aug. 2025
After noticing her sibling was squinting during a pool party, the actor invited him to pick a pair from his collection to keep.
—Daysia Tolentino, EW.com, 16 Aug. 2025
Alex Harrington, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Berners-Lee, squinting, wasn’t so sure.
—Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2025
To see improvement requires at least some squinting.
—Pete Sampson, New York Times, 21 Sep. 2025
DiCaprio makes a great, vital has-been, squinting at the horrors around him in disbelief, but mostly, driven by the need to protect his child.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 18 Sep. 2025
The mother-son duo posed for photos, with Valentino adorably squinting from the bright lights of the cameras.
—Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2025
In it, the student’s beaming; Kirk is squinting into the sun.
—Rick Jervis, USA Today, 14 Sep. 2025
An overly wide eye may mean that your dog is feeling threatened, while a small or squinting eye may suggest fear or stress.
—Dawn Kovell, Mercury News, 19 Aug. 2025
After noticing her sibling was squinting during a pool party, the actor invited him to pick a pair from his collection to keep.
—Daysia Tolentino, EW.com, 16 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for squinting
Verb
-
Gunshots slicing through the air from above sent visitors running for cover or peering out of their cars to investigate – some worried for family members inside the facility.—
Amanda Musa,
CNN Money,
25 Sep. 2025
-
Success was both exhilarating and terrifying; his sister Pam recalls paparazzi peering into their parents’ kitchen.—
Eric Cortellessa,
Time,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
At the end of a disastrous season, the New York Mets are staring at a lot of obstacles.—
Jackson Roberts,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Sep. 2025
-
The teacher noticed Aburto Guzman take his laptop out of his red backpack, place it on the table and begin staring outside the window, according to an interview with police.—
Noe Padilla,
IndyStar,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Miami got back in the game in the 39th minute when Tomás Avilés poked home from a goalmouth scramble after Sergio Busquets’s glancing header from a corner had been parried out by Chris Brady.—
The Athletic Staff,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Thomas asked, barely glancing up from his Instagram feed.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
There are two blinking lights on the front of its boxy body to approximate wide, moony pupils.—
Scottie Andrew,
CNN Money,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Beyoncé went from disco-diva futurism on Renaissance to cowboy boots on Cowboy Carter without blinking.—
Kevin Dolak,
HollywoodReporter,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Drive along the Kancamagus Scenic Byway or head to Franconia Notch State Park, which boasts a few famous leaf-peeping hikes, including the Artists Bluff trail.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
26 Sep. 2025
-
Peak leaf-peeping season is almost here.—
Miranda Crowell,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Teresa could be seen gazing up at her husband, placing a hand under her stomach.—
Hannah Sacks,
PEOPLE,
23 Sep. 2025
-
Stay here for several breaths, sending the tailbone high, gazing toward the navel, and pressing your heels gently toward the mat.—
Julia Eskins,
Outside,
22 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Squinting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/squinting. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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