WINKING Synonyms: 123 Similar and Opposite Words

winking 1 of 2

adjective

as in glancing

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winking

2 of 2

verb

present participle of wink

as in squinting

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

as in twinkling

to shine with light at regular intervals a lighthouse was winking in the distance

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in gleaming

to shoot forth bursts of light fireflies winking in the darkness beyond our campfire

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as in ignoring

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

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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 winking

Verb

The production’s winking tone blunts some of the original’s tear-jerking climax, yet its intact happy ending offers a surprisingly comforting vision of survival in an age of constant crises. — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026 The woman at the center of a viral video who was seen winking and smiling at a camera during the Lindsay Clancy trial this week has been dropped by the magazine she was credentialed to cover the trial for. — Kelsie Cairns , Bryan Llenas, FOXNews.com, 26 Aug. 2026 The wry, winking tone still legible in its pages was an early iteration of the urbane magazine voice that powered nineteenth-century publications such as Judge and Puck, as well as later ones like The New Yorker, New York, Spy, and Gawker. — Eric Lach, New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2026 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 The film’s mix of musical swagger, YA melodrama, and winking world-building hit a nerve, turning its core cast into fixtures for a generation that grew up streaming the soundtrack on a loop. — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 25 July 2026 For Lin, part of her goal in posting her surveillance selfies was a winking subversion of the all-seeing state. — T.m. Brown, CNN Money, 18 July 2026 Orbital mirrors flashing and winking back to Earth could distract airline pilots. — Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 14 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for winking

Adjective

These gentler, more glancing interactions often result in a merger, too.

— Phil Plait, Scientific American, 22 May 2026
Glaser, from a very glancing stylistic consideration, looks like a multicam by comparison.

— Joe Reid, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2024

Definition of glancing

Verb

As the day progresses and the vibe moves from business to pleasure, guests drift out to the outdoor terrace at La Lo La Rooftop with panoramic vistas, twinkling festoon lighting, and a menu of tapas and cocktails.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Sep. 2026
The following two pictures provided close up glimpses at her twinkling halo engagement ring.

— Michael Nied, InStyle, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of twinkling

Verb

In the gleaming lobby, the brand’s signature scent—a warm and woody fragrance reminiscent of two of my favorites, Comme des Garçons’ Wonderwood and Odin New York’s 07 Tanoke—greeted me.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Sep. 2026
Instead of defaulting to the typical white or chunky sneaker that makes the rounds every season, Hadid opted for a gleaming pair of Puma Speedcats.

— Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of gleaming

Verb

Parkinson’s is often marked by tremors, slow or impaired movement, tenseness or rigidity and difficulty balancing, as well as speech changes and loss of automatic motor functions like blinking or smiling, according to Mayo Clinic.

— Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2026
Some people have simple motor tics, such as blinking, shoulder shrugging or facial movements.

— Michael Okun, The Conversation, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of blinking

Verb

Spend enough time moving through Tokyo, and their faces have a way of finding you, like flickering across the screens mounted behind taxi headrests.

— Crystal Bell, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2026
The apparently bulky buildings and trees of the 3D game world around us would actually be pixels flickering on a flat screen.

— Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 25 Sep. 2026