as in to ignore
to dismiss as of little importance
for too long the school just winked at the young athletes' hooliganism, dismissing it as a case of "boys being boys"
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wink (at)
Verb
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The lawsuit alleges Parker ignored concerns raised by several teachers and staff members, including that the student may have had a gun in his possession hours before the shooting.—
Cindy Von Quednow,
CNN Money,
30 Oct. 2025 -
In fact, they’d merely been habituated, the way a bird learns to ignore a rhino.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Borrowers who work full time for the federal, state, local or tribal government – including in schools and the military – can have their remaining debt forgiven after 10 years of monthly payments through public service loan forgiveness.—
Jennifer L. Steele,
The Conversation,
3 Nov. 2025
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Alvarado put the Phillies in a bind this season, and that might not be easy for those in the clubhouse to forgive.—
Jackson Roberts,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Johnson’s disappearance nearly five years ago put the spotlight on the many cases involving missing and murdered Indigenous women that families and activists argued were getting overlooked and dismissed.—
Nicquel Terry Ellis,
CNN Money,
3 Nov. 2025
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Later, back on land, the couple dined at a table overlooking the Miami River, noshing on Greek fare and dancing until late night.—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
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In March 2025, Chelsea gave PEOPLE an exclusive update on Max's health journey, explaining that their son has had to relearn basic functions and attend physical therapy.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
26 Oct. 2025
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The canal connected increasingly specialized regions in the early US, explains historian Roger Ransom.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
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A little goes a long way, which makes the above-average price point easier to justify.—
Taylor Rock,
Better Homes & Gardens,
28 Oct. 2025
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And as obesity rates among American continue to rank far higher than those of other countries, the survey says this could help justify policy and coverage gains.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
28 Oct. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Wink (at).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wink%20%28at%29. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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