Synonyms of wink

wink 1 of 2

noun

1

as in nap

a short sleep

I wasn't able to catch a wink during the entire flight

Synonyms & Similar Words

• nap
• doze
• snooze
• siesta
• catnap
• drowse
• forty winks
• kip
• rest
• slumber
• bed
• repose

2

as in minute

a very small space of time

I turned to look away, and in a wink he was gone

Synonyms & Similar Words

• minute
• heartbeat
• second
• moment
• twinkle
• instant
• twinkling
• nanosecond
• split second
• jiffy
• trice
• shake
• flash
• beat
• eyeblink
• jiff
• New York minute
• microsecond
• snatch
• spurt

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• age
• eternity
• forever
• lifetime
• eon
• infinity

wink

2 of 2

verb

ˈwiŋk 

1

as in to blink

to rapidly open and close one's eyes

she winked several times to get the dust and grit out of her eyes

Synonyms & Similar Words

• blink
• squint
• flutter
• bat

2

as in to twinkle

to shine with light at regular intervals

a lighthouse was winking in the distance

Synonyms & Similar Words

• twinkle
• flash
• flicker
• blink
• sparkle
• glint
• glimmer
• flare
• shimmer
• glance
• glisten
• glitter
• spark
• scintillate
• glister
• spangle
• coruscate

3

as in to gleam

to shoot forth bursts of light

fireflies winking in the darkness beyond our campfire

Synonyms & Similar Words

• gleam
• twinkle
• glint
• flash
• shimmer
• sparkle
• shine
• glitter
• glimmer
• glisten
• glow
• glance
• flame
• scintillate
• winkle
• glister
• spangle
• coruscate
• luster
• beam
• blind
• dazzle
• flare
• radiate
• glare
• blaze
• daze
• bedazzle
• burn

4

as in to ignore

to secretly sympathize with or pretend ignorance of something improper or unlawful

the whole sporting world seems to wink as untold sums are bet on the outcome of the Super Bowl

Synonyms & Similar Words

• ignore
• forgive
• disregard
• tolerate
• connive
• excuse
• pardon
• overlook
• pass over
• brush (aside or off)
• gloss (over)
• shrug off
• condone
• gloze (over)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• disapprove (of)
• deny
• refuse
• frown (on or upon)
• disallow

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of wink

Noun

The artists that Fallon channeled for this album, all of the ’80s rockers and troubadours alike, there had to be a wink. — Brendan Menapace, SPIN, 9 Sep. 2026

The company does, though, sell a scarf called Tulipomanie, covered in frilly blooms of an exquisiteness that seems to rebut the charge of excess hype with a wink. — Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026

Verb

The ad ends with Cameli looking into the camera for a few seconds before winking. — Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2026

Her lyrics, like those of many of her biggest musical influences, are dense texts, full of winking allusions and subtle references to records, bands, and albums that have shaped her own songwriting. — Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 14 Aug. 2026

Phrases Containing wink

• wink (at)
• wink (out)