winked

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 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 The cream itself was white, but the moniker winked to a mineral complex found in black volcanic rocks on the Sicilian island of Pantelleria. Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for winked
Verb
  • Garfield blinked in shock a few times before rocketing out of his chair for a split second, then spinning around to uncomfortably look at his co-stars.
    Bethy Squires, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Laser lights flashed while the crowd's light up bracelets, which were given out as fans filed into the stadium, blinked coordinated colors.
    Audrey Gibbs, The Tennessean, 13 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The multicolored under glow on Motley’s Hellcat twinkled while attendees moseyed around the car, pointing fingers and asking questions.
    Liam Rappleye, USA Today, 18 July 2025
Verb
  • Marble floors gleamed beneath towering columns, and the chandeliers cast a warm, golden light.
    Maggie Downs, Oc Register, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Daylight gleamed on the blue and green waters of the cove.
    Kristen Taketa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • According to a passenger who spotted her aboard the plane, the congressional representative had ignored a friendly greeting from the economy-cabin flier.
    Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 7 Sep. 2025
  • Sometimes, they’d be turned away, and other times, ignored.
    David Rodriguez Muñoz, Freep.com, 7 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • But the way Herbert flashed early in his career, tossing seven touchdown passes and only one interception in a 2021 season sweep of the defending AFC champion Chiefs, had come to feel like a tease.
    Mike Sando, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
  • James’ strike flashed in at the near post and started a huge party for Colombia fans in Barranquilla.
    Joseph O'Sullivan, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Pans, scoured, hung from hooks; knives glinted in ascending size.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 7 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The British supermodel brought her A-game to the fall campaign shoot, throwing her hands up in the air and letting her hair fly as the club lights pulsed and strobes flickered around her.
    Miles Socha, Footwear News, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Street lights flickered on, even though the sunset wasn’t for another hour.
    Shaun McKinnon, AZCentral.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The gold and cream jacquard shimmered with each movement, the intricate pattern gave the suit a rich, almost tapestry-like dimension.
    Karissa Mitchell, Essence, 15 Aug. 2025
  • Perhaps because the testing period doesn’t begin until 2026, the room shimmered with the optimism of a hundred as yet undisproved hypotheses.
    Tad Friend, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Winked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/winked. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.

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