TWINKLES Synonyms: 58 Similar and Opposite Words

twinkles 1 of 2

noun

plural of twinkle

as in minutes

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

twinkles

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of twinkle

as in flashes

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in gleams

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 twinkles

Noun

The cups on display, with sleek forms and graphic twinkles, immediately felt relatable yet also transcendent, the boundary between life and art blissfully obliterated. — Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 24 Aug. 2026 And Georges delivers—come for the smart, international menu and panoramic views over Paris (especially appealing at night, when the Eiffel Tower twinkles with light). — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Aug. 2026 Perch yourself in the Hollywood Hills and watch as the city twinkles below at night. — Kristin Braswell, Architectural Digest, 30 June 2026 But, there will be progress, if not twinkles of excitement. — Troy Renck, Denver Post, 27 Mar. 2026 Death twinkles in this landscape like mineral sand. — Literary Hub, 5 Mar. 2026 Downtown, the Plaza twinkles with thousands of string lights. — Zoe Baillargeon, Travel + Leisure, 20 Dec. 2025 This Lowcountry gem nestled on Port Royal Island is magical year-round, but at Christmas, Beaufort’s glow twinkles even brighter. — Stephanie Hunt, Southern Living, 28 Nov. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for twinkles

Noun

Those games became the first in Summer Olympic history to publish invaluable epidemiologic data such as diagnoses, core temperatures, and minutes-to-cool, which continue to inform Olympic planning.

— Vibhu Krishna, STAT, 2 Oct. 2026
The handful of Israeli passengers grappled with the copilot for several minutes before subduing him and binding his hands with the cord from a set of headphones.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of minutes

Verb

This option from Vantamo flashes a bright light and emits a 130-decibel sound from dual speakers whenever the top pin is pulled, alerting passersby of the emergency and scaring off potential assailants.

— Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 20 Sep. 2026
The show then flashes forward to the other women emotionally processing the news of his overdose and coming together at Angie’s to console one another and share memories of Robert.

— Tom Smyth, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of flashes

Verb

Like Beckham’s dress, the 100-percent silk dress softly gleams in the light.

— Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 12 Dec. 2025
Despite a couple of funky skips, the album is fueled by the hunger of an artist who really wants the pop life again, perking up electro-scuzz and arena rock with new wave that gleams like glitter.

— Pitchfork, Pitchfork, 4 Dec. 2025

Definition of gleams

Noun

Others include Rafael Lozano-Hemmer’s light and sound installation Pulse Topology (2021), installed in 2023, in which visitors’ heartbeats inform the pulse of lights hanging overhead.

— Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 4 Sep. 2026
Simpson was diagnosed with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, a rare heart condition that can cause irregular heartbeats and sudden cardiac death in seemingly healthy individuals, per John Hopkins Medicine.

— Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of heartbeats

Verb

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
But Triage does have a moment in which an ember of the old cruel optimism flickers.

— Charles Finch, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of flickers

Verb

The air is perfectly warm, the sunshine glints on the water, happy people pass by and wave.

— Kristy Woodson Harvey, Southern Living, 18 July 2026
That, from time to time, during his endless task, the sun glints across the rock’s face in a way that reminds him that there were good times, or at least different times.

— Hanif Abdurraqib, New Yorker, 12 May 2026

Definition of glints

Noun

Body-camera video shows Duran firing seconds after Fortson opened the door holding a handgun pointed down; the disturbance report that sent the deputy there was false.

— Corey Williams, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
That machine set a global benchmark in January 2025 by holding plasma heated to 100 million degrees Celsius (180 million degrees Fahrenheit) for 1,066 seconds.

— Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of seconds

Verb

Parton turned extravagant blonde wigs, elaborate makeup, high heels, and sparkles into one of the most recognizable looks in entertainment.

— William Arruda, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
The pearl-white sand is powdery soft, and the crystal-clear water literally sparkles in the sun.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of sparkles

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Style

“Twinkles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/twinkles. Accessed 8 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of twinkles

noun

verb

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