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

Relevance

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 place completed the renovation in 2022, so everything is crisp, gorgeous, and gleaming new.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 July 2026
  • Where would musical theater be without gleaming little prop vials of potions?
    — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 11 July 2026
Definition of gleam
Verb
  • Donaldson, the rookie from UM, flashes creativity and anticipatory skills as a passer.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 17 July 2026
  • Walker wore his Cardinals hat backward, chewed a big wad of bubble gum and reveled afterward in flashing his imitation Liberty Bell bling, the champions chain presented by Ryan Howard.
    — Dan Gelston, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2026
Definition of flash
Verb
  • In December, wreaths and twinkling lights transform the inn into a New England fantasy.
    — Air Mail, Air Mail, 4 July 2026
  • As the firework began to wane after well over a minute, zigzagging streaks of light spread into a canopy of twinkling flashes that resembled stars.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 28 June 2026
Definition of twinkle
Verb
  • Beaming in the photos, the couple looked overjoyed as Shiffrin showed off her dazzling engagement ring, which featured a sparkling diamond set between two gold bands.
    — Paloma Chavez, PEOPLE, 16 July 2026
  • Rooms The rooms vary in size and decor, but each one is true to the property's aesthetic, featuring pretty pastels, sumptuous bedding, soaring ceilings, and sparkling chandeliers.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 July 2026
Definition of sparkle
Verb
  • Reality Check is a Star series holding those with power to account and shining a light on their decisions.
    — Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 15 July 2026
  • There’s nothing like it—the sun shining, a warm breeze tussling your hair, waves rushing onto the shore, and breathing in the fresh, salty air.
    — Susan B. Barnes, Southern Living, 14 July 2026
Definition of shine
Verb
  • Disco, with its shimmering rays of citrus and sultry amber notes, will transport you to a stress-free state of mind and a crowded dance floor.
    — Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 14 July 2026
  • Crow took the stage in a black vest and sparkly, navy blue pants that shimmered back the colors of the stage lights.
    — Sophie Lindberg, Kansas City Star, 12 July 2026
Definition of shimmer
Verb
  • Broadway's glittering lights have always beckoned aspiring thespians and avid theatergoers to New York, and the city's ever exciting theatre scene is far from simply resting on its laurels.
    — Madison Flager, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 July 2026
  • The bulldozers proceeded to turn Gaza’s Coca-Cola factory into a landscape of glittering glass.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 July 2026
Definition of glitter
Verb
  • 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
  • In their gowns and bowties, guests giddily slurp mounds of glinting caviar off the back of their hand.
    — Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 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
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Theme music by Joshua Stamper ©2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP

Cite this Entry

“Winkle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/winkle. Accessed 19 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 17
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
child-detective
Spot the Misspelled Word July 2026 Those little red underlines can't help you now...
See All