winked

Definition of winkednext
past tense of wink
1
as in blinked
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

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2
3
4
as in ignored
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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 winked Ten hours later, its transponder winked back into life due north of Abu Dhabi, heading for Bahrain. Priyanjana Bengani, Bloomberg, 7 Mar. 2026 Sartorial outerwear crafted from archival fabrics mingled with pieces that winked to utility and workwear, with a few styles looking to balance these two souls in a single design, such as double wool hooded capes and coats. Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 2 Mar. 2026 Stayton then reportedly winked and told the protester they'd be charged with a felony. Jolene Almendarez, Cincinnati Enquirer, 12 Nov. 2025 Farther up, on Observatory Hill, tall cryptomeria trees were silhouetted in the darkening evening, and down in the valleys, lights winked on like reflections of the planets and stars appearing in the sky. Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2025 The last ember of Rope A winked out. Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025 With both drugs, the alignment of brain waves shifted in similar ways as the animals’ consciousness waned and then winked out. Big Think, 20 Aug. 2025 Dangling like Christmas ornaments, the aluminum plates winked in the sun, evoking Yuletide in the depths of July. Monitor Contributors, Christian Science Monitor, 11 July 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for winked
Verb
  • The Nuggets stared into the eyes of a pack of Wolves, and blinked.
    Troy Renck, Denver Post, 1 May 2026
  • Hitchcock blinked rapidly as the drugs began flowing and took several deep breaths.
    Jeffrey Collins, Sun Sentinel, 30 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Before a big night out or even just dinner with friends, lids twinkled, cheekbones caught the light from every angle, and lip gloss doubled as a mirror.
    Annie Blay-Tettey, Allure, 22 Apr. 2026
  • Animated pixie dust twinkled on the screen, courtesy of the fairy, Tinker Bell.
    Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • His jaw tightened as beads of sweat gleamed on his forehead.
    Christopher Cann, USA Today, 10 May 2026
  • His helmet’s gold face mask gleamed in the afternoon sun.
    Les Carpenter, Washington Post, 8 May 2026
Verb
  • Despite wooden signs prohibiting people reserving sun loungers with towels and then leaving them, the father-of-two said guests routinely ignored the warning.
    Charlotte Reck, CNN Money, 7 May 2026
  • To some, the data centers are an inevitable part of our future and an economic opportunity that can’t be ignored as the global AI race accelerates.
    Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 May 2026
Verb
  • Pok squinted against his bedroom's harsh, swinging light.
    Danielle Parker, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Dressed in periwinkle, Annie took off her shoes in front of the sunflowers, sat down, squinted into the sunlight and smiled.
    Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 11 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Corona del Mar’s Sofia Szymanowski flashed her improvement in the 100 breaststroke.
    Dan Albano, Oc Register, 8 May 2026
  • Over the past few weeks, Rushing flashed a similar edge, an emerging personality, at age 25.
    Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 8 May 2026
Verb
  • The silver Chrysler Sebring glinted when the sun kissed the parking lot in Temple, Texas, sitting by its lonesome.
    Luca Evans, Denver Post, 8 May 2026
  • Beaded coats glinted with star-chart embroidery.
    ABC News, ABC News, 9 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Instead, the data revealed a planet in flux where areas brightened explosively in one year and dimmed sharply the next; regions flickered in rhythms tied to oil booms, armed conflicts, and pandemic lockdowns.
    Bree Shirvell, Hartford Courant, 12 May 2026
  • Not far from where the two sat, a customer service light flickered on and off, but no employees manned the help desk.
    Audrey Pachuta, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Winked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/winked. Accessed 14 May. 2026.

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