as in stares
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of squints
Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Byrne has never been better, sharper, or more intimidating as a screen presence, carrying the movie with squints and frowns.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 6 Aug. 2025
Allegra Goodman, New Yorker, 4 Jan. 2026
Wiesmair squints at his smartphone, which is logged on to a database of European moth species.
—IEEE Spectrum, 2 Oct. 2025
Noun
And in a third, the gaunt 30-year-old killer flexes, purses his lips and squints.
—Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Byrne has never been better, sharper, or more intimidating as a screen presence, carrying the movie with squints and frowns.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 6 Aug. 2025
Verb
Meanwhile, Charles squints at the phone.
—Allegra Goodman, New Yorker, 4 Jan. 2026
Wiesmair squints at his smartphone, which is logged on to a database of European moth species.
—IEEE Spectrum, 2 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for squints
Noun
-
When most pieces share a palette, almost any top works with almost any bottom, so a dozen items can cover dozens of looks.—
Ryan Brennan,
Charlotte Observer,
19 June 2026
-
Seven different looks rotate throughout the World Cup season, each one conceived by designer Ricardo Zuccolini, with Diana Dubinsky and her team at Wynwood studio’s DesignLab22 swathing the sea nymphs in capes inspired by FIFA teams’ country colors.—
Lilian Raji,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
Verb
-
Her shocked caregiver stares at her uncomprehendingly.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 June 2026
-
The first photo of the two-slide carousel shows Prince Harry holding Lilibet in his arms while Meghan, her arm on her husband, stares lovingly at her daughter.—
Rachel Burchfield,
InStyle,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
For starters, bright colors inject visibility – not merely for players looking to find each other amid the chaos of a World Cup match, but also for brands looking to draw the gazes of millions of onlooking fans towards their logo.—
Jack Bantock,
CNN Money,
22 June 2026
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But the melancholy pop soundtrack (Gracie Abrams, Lana del Rey, Noah Cyrus) and many, many longing gazes suggest we’re meant to find all of this terribly moving, rather than exhausting.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
Yoon’s wife slips a cigarette between her lips, then glances at my wife.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
-
Nail trends—and cursory glances at the ladies in the salon chairs beside us—have shown butter nails are here to stay.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
Fortunately, the emotional spar fest between the queen of withering glares and snippy comments — award winner Allison Janney — and the onstage king of stammering self involvement — Andrew Rannells — clicks in director/writer Jim Rash dramedy debut.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
28 May 2026
-
The shooter tamed the sun’s glares while ensuring the deep-red gazebo popped against the lush green park.—
Kimberly Gedeon,
PC Magazine,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
The question is who blinks first.—
William Pesek,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
-
Even after five years in the job, Alejo occasionally blinks in confusion at a line and turns to her laptop to google what these government and corporate bureaucracies are trying to say.—
Megan Greenwell,
Bloomberg,
9 June 2026
Noun
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The streamer confirmed the news in a social post, which flashed peeks of a photo shoot with the show’s four leads.—
Kenneal Patterson,
Vanity Fair,
29 May 2026
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Expect exposed timber beams, original brick and sandstone, Tasmanian artwork, and peeks of original wallpaper.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 May 2026
Verb
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That's allowed Micron and peers SK Hynix and Samsung to hike prices.—
Samantha Subin,
CNBC,
26 May 2026
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Someone dressed in a big blue bear costume — an homage to the 40-foot ursine behemoth who peers into the Colorado Convention Center along 14th Street in downtown Denver — has already been getting a lot of attention from attendees, the party chair said.—
John Aguilar,
Denver Post,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Squints.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/squints. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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