winkle

verb

Definition of winklenext
as in to gleam
to shoot forth bursts of light under a canopy of winkling stars, the campers bedded down for the night

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for winkle
  1. gleam
  2. flash
  3. twinkle
  4. sparkle
  5. shine
  6. shimmer
  7. glitter
  8. glint
Verb
  • The ​pitch is reinforced by the document’s anime-style cover, which depicts a smiling family in a gleaming cityscape rather than ​the troops, weapons and military insignia featured on many previous editions.
    — Reuters, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026
  • The neon lights began to move about briskly, like gleaming whirligig beetles, and the lights on the advertising tower closest to the stadium flickered across the Squirrel-brand margarine ad.
    — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of gleam
Verb
  • Blue morphos flashed their bright wings before disappearing among the plants, while guests gathered around the emergence chamber to look for new butterflies and moths drying their wings.
    — Sophia Buonpane, Kansas City Star, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Wall Street prized Park Avenue co-ops, then the first wave of Silicon Valley fortunes flashed in glass boxes behind the hedges of Atherton and Los Altos Hills.
    — Natalie Hoberman, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of flash
Verb
  • Grandfathered into the history of the hotel is Top of the East—just the kind of old-school, sprawling rooftop lounge with a drop-dead panoramic view of the twinkling town that every city needs.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 July 2026
  • Meanwhile, families have front-row seats to a special show at night—the twinkling lights of ships passing through the Panama Canal on the horizon.
    — Gina Kramer, USA Today, 25 July 2026
Definition of twinkle
Verb
  • The voluminous ivory ball gown featured a ruffled neckline and puffed sleeves, with a sparkling veil and a record-breaking 25-foot train.
    — Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 29 July 2026
  • A day later in Rome, Zendaya sparkled in a Versace red-and-blue, color-block chainmail top and skirt set from the brand's fall/winter 1997 collection.
    — Morgan Evans, USA Today, 28 July 2026
Definition of sparkle
Verb
  • My mom has great style year round, but the fall is when her wardrobe really shines.
    — Isabel Bekele, InStyle, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Stars are shining before us, right now, and any moment spent lamenting the way their games appear is a moment lost to bask in their brilliance.
    — Tamerra Griffin, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of shine
Verb
  • Our next atmospheric shot was taken with the aid of a telephoto lens by Ismail Kaplan during moonrise, as the lunar disk shimmered alongside Ankara Castle in the capital city of Türkiye.
    — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 30 July 2026
  • An InStyle editor breaks down the details of her dresses, from an ethereal blue tulle reception number to her shimmering gold after-party look.
    — Amanda Le, InStyle, 30 July 2026
Definition of shimmer
Verb
  • As well as the sculptures, there’s an extensive display of the artist’s one-of-a-kind, glittering jewelry pieces.
    — Joanne Shurvell, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
  • This androgynous look was paired with Louboutin pumps and glittering Bulgari jewels.
    — Shelby Comroe, InStyle, 25 July 2026
Definition of glitter
Verb
  • The air is perfectly warm, the sunshine glints on the water, happy people pass by and wave.
    — Kristy Woodson Harvey, Southern Living, 18 July 2026
  • After spending some time by the pool, a semi-Olympic lined with emerald and malachite mosaics that glinted in the soft, ambient light, followed by a quick trip to the sauna, I was escorted to my treatment room, about a half-flight of stairs up, where I was met by Marcia, my therapist.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 June 2026
Definition of glint
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.

Browse Nearby Words

winking (out)
winkle
winkled
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Cite this Entry

“Winkle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/winkle. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

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