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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Swift will either ignore the noise as usual, or smile at the absurdity as a secure, proud childless cat lady.
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Not only were the rules misapplied, according to an expert referee with years of elite experience, but similar plays during this tournament have been ignored.
Verb
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Shoppers note that the shorts are roomy and don’t bunch up, and that the elastic waistband is forgiving even while bloated.
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Debt settlement can negatively affect your credit score, and forgiven debt may have tax implications in some situations.
Verb
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In fact, Smith has long argued that the NFL has overlooked Black candidates at those positions because of racial bias.
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Darrell said that’s an opportunity the company can no longer afford to overlook.
Verb
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Carpino retired in April, without ever explaining what was not right in the organization or, based on the standings, repairing it.
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Davies explains that Provenance adds value, as does good condition, because textiles are particularly unforgiving and easy to damage.
Verb
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Wall Street is increasingly punishing Big Tech companies for spending on AI without profits to justify it.
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Thus far, Meta was only monetizing AI through its advertising, which is a great business but can be cyclical and was not enough to justify using all its cash flow.
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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 7 Jul. 2026.
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