twinkle 1 of 2

noun

Definition of twinklenext
as in minute
a very small space of time in just a twinkle, the shooting star was gone

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

twinkle

2 of 2

verb

ˈtwiŋ-kəl How to pronounce twinkle (audio)
1
as in to flash
to shine with light at regular intervals holiday decorations twinkled in the shop windows

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to gleam
to shoot forth bursts of light stars twinkling on a crisp September night

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 twinkle
Noun
Kutsuna has an impish twinkle; Yamada mutely swans about in a daze like an opium fiend. — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026 Thwarted by England’s tenacity and gregariousness, the twinkle-toed talisman and his team were staring down the barrel of a World Cup exit. — Aleks Klosok, CNN Money, 15 July 2026
Verb
Meanwhile, families have front-row seats to a special show at night—the twinkling lights of ships passing through the Panama Canal on the horizon. — Gina Kramer, USA Today, 25 July 2026 In December, wreaths and twinkling lights transform the inn into a New England fantasy. — Air Mail, 4 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for twinkle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for twinkle
  1. minute
  2. flash
  3. gleam
  4. heartbeat
  5. flicker
  6. sparkle
  7. second
  8. glint
Noun
  • The layered structure disappeared completely after 50 minutes.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Turn and continue cooking, turning every 2 minutes or so, until pork chops are deeply browned on both sides, 10–12 minutes (an instant-read thermometer inserted near the bone should register 145°).
    — Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appetit Magazine, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of minute
Verb
  • The computers themselves look little like a consumer desktop; for better cooling they’re not covered by a shell, so server rooms are all exposed green switches and flashing blue lights.
    — Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The forecast comes as Hawaii is still recovering from multiple instances of heavy rain and flash flooding over the last six months.
    — Denise Chow, NBC news, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of flash
Verb
  • Shower Door One of the most dazzling superpowers of using toothpaste as a cleaner can be seen in a gleaming shower door.
    — Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 6 Sep. 2026
  • The movie star approached AFP photographer Tiziana Fabi, gave her his gleaming trophy, then posed with Fabi's camera.
    — Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of gleam
Noun
  • The game has a heartbeat that’s going to ask something of you in every situation and José’s gotten to that point.
    — C. Trent Rosecrans, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Commander John Young made his fifth and final trip to space at age 50, with a heartbeat of 75 to 80 beats a minute, while first-time flier Bob Crippen, 43, had a heartbeat pulsed at 130 beats per minute.
    — Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of heartbeat
Verb
  • The firefighters made camp at two in the morning, reclining on the pillowy grass, and ate dinner around a flickering campfire.
    — M. R. O’Connor, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Layered background sighs, a resonant lead vocal, autumnal acoustic guitar flickers, synths both eerie and trippy—James has all his tricks on tap.
    — Ryan Leas, Pitchfork, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of flicker
Verb
  • We are desired and judged, we are measured by the thickness of our thighs, size of our chests, sparkle in our grin.
    — Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Underneath a sparkling 64-arm crystal chandelier, the two tallied long rallies with Osaka ultimately taking the win.
    — Paul Chi, Vogue, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of sparkle
Noun
  • Ole Miss moves into the top 10 for its last-second win against another top-25 opponent in Louisville.
    — Chris Vannini, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Senior receiver Mikey Matthews made a significant contribution, catching four passes for 88 yards, including a deep ball with 13 seconds left at the end of the first half that allowed UCLA to kick a field goal and take a seven-point lead.
    — Connor Dullinger, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of second
Verb
  • The placement feels resonant, since Boorman was always operating between poles of glinting victory and laughable failure.
    — Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Water rushes past, glinting silver in the light of the sun, just risen above the mountains that ring the bay.
    — Jonathan Wiggin, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of glint

Browse Nearby Words

twining
twinkle
twinkled
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Cite this Entry

“Twinkle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/twinkle. Accessed 10 Sep. 2026.

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