TWINKLE Synonyms: 58 Similar and Opposite Words

twinkle 1 of 2

noun

Definition of twinkle

as in minute

a very small space of time in just a twinkle, the shooting star was gone

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

twinkle

2 of 2

verb

ˈtwiŋ-kəl

as in to flash

to shine with light at regular intervals holiday decorations twinkled in the shop windows

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

The stage for Sheeran’s tour has a glittering circular screen set into its center, twinkling like a ring light. — Naaman Zhou, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2026 His pencil mustache, his fastidious gestures, and his twinkling eyes are at least as famous as his drinks. — Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for twinkle

Recent Examples of Synonyms for twinkle

Noun

Along with return airport transfers, VIP airport assistance, 30-minute photo sessions, daily wellness activities, Balinese house visits, private melukat purification ceremonies, and jamu-making classes are all complimentary.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Oct. 2026
Just minutes later, Meyer transferred $10,000 from a fund account containing only investor money to the Meyer Global Partners account.

— Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of minute

Verb

Yet three successive Democratic presidential campaigns willfully ignored these flashing sirens, instead insisting that Green New Deals and diversity, equity and inclusion programs would appeal to working-class Latino men.

— Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
In others, there are clear personnel issues that are flashing warning signs about what the future may hold.

— Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of flash

Verb

My Instagram Discover page is a narcotic carousel of supple leather and gleaming metal.

— Adam Erace, Fortune, 26 Sep. 2026
In the gleaming lobby, the brand’s signature scent—a warm and woody fragrance reminiscent of two of my favorites, Comme des Garçons’ Wonderwood and Odin New York’s 07 Tanoke—greeted me.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of gleam

Noun

People with sleep apnea are two to five times more likely to have an irregular heartbeat.

— Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 24 Sep. 2026
Among the younger adults who experienced strokes, there was an increase in hypertension, diabetes, atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat) and substance use.

— Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of heartbeat

Verb

Spend enough time moving through Tokyo, and their faces have a way of finding you, like flickering across the screens mounted behind taxi headrests.

— Crystal Bell, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2026
The apparently bulky buildings and trees of the 3D game world around us would actually be pixels flickering on a flat screen.

— Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of flicker

Verb

Spaeter shares that baking soda can act as a secret ingredient to a sparkling oven.

— Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Sep. 2026
The Clove Bar mixologists have quite a command of indigenous ingredients and spices and use them beautifully in libations like the Munduk Mule and sparkling honey-and-lime Arak Madu; the bar serves Western staples and snacks throughout the day, too.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of sparkle

Noun

The Tigers pulled to within a point with 23 seconds left in the game after Tre Nichols escaped a trio of would-be tacklers and lofted a 67-yard touchdown pass to Carter McElhany.

— Erick Taylor, Arkansas Online, 27 Sep. 2026
The senior receiver made a game-winning, one-handed catch on fourth-and-goal for the Eagles in the closing seconds — and much to the delight of senior quarterback Sean Ruisz.

— Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of second

Verb

Animals started tracking across the plain, their eyes glinting in the flashlights Cordova and Heimann swept back and forth.

— Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 21 Sep. 2026
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

Definition of glint

Browse Nearby Words

twining

twinkle

twinkled

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Twinkle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/twinkle. Accessed 1 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of twinkle

noun

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

slew

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Oct. 2

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes