Synonyms of winks

winks 1 of 2

noun

plural of wink

1

as in naps

a short sleep

I wasn't able to catch a wink during the entire flight

Synonyms & Similar Words

• naps
• dozes
• catnaps
• forty winks
• siestas
• reposes
• slumbers
• rests
• snoozes
• drowses
• kips
• beds

2

as in minutes

a very small space of time

I turned to look away, and in a wink he was gone

Synonyms & Similar Words

• minutes
• heartbeats
• seconds
• moments
• twinkles
• shakes
• instants
• flashes
• nanoseconds
• eyeblinks
• twinklings
• trices
• split seconds
• beats
• jiffs
• jiffies
• snatches
• New York minutes
• microseconds
• spurts

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ages
• aeons
• eternities
• lifetimes
• forevers
• infinities

winks

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of wink

1

as in blinks

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

• blinks
• squints
• flutters
• bats

2

as in twinkles

to shine with light at regular intervals

a lighthouse was winking in the distance

Synonyms & Similar Words

• twinkles
• flashes
• flickers
• blinks
• sparkles
• glints
• glances
• shimmers
• flares
• glimmers
• glitters
• glistens
• sparks
• spangles
• scintillates
• glisters
• coruscates

3

as in gleams

to shoot forth bursts of light

fireflies winking in the darkness beyond our campfire

Synonyms & Similar Words

• gleams
• flashes
• glints
• twinkles
• sparkles
• shimmers
• glances
• shines
• glitters
• glistens
• glimmers
• glows
• flames
• winkles
• scintillates
• spangles
• beams
• glisters
• coruscates
• lusters
• dazzles
• radiates
• glares
• blinds
• flares
• dazes
• bedazzles
• blazes
• burns

4

as in ignores

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

• ignores
• connives
• forgives
• tolerates
• disregards
• overlooks
• condones
• pardons
• brushes (aside or off)
• excuses
• shrugs off
• passes over
• glosses (over)
• glozes (over)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• disapproves (of)
• refuses
• denies
• frowns (on or upon)
• disallows

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of winks

Noun

In a very short time, Rider tweaked Celine’s mostly classic men’s wardrobe with little jolts of fashion, helpings of preppy, winks to the past and a very distinctive patina and hand — nothing too bright, stiff or high-contrast. — Miles Socha, Footwear News, 27 Oct. 2026

From New York’s insistence that low ponies and naked nails are, indeed, chic, to Milan’s cheeky winks of morning-after makeup and good-bad-hair days, designers and artists made room to play. — Arden Fanning Andrews, Vogue, 8 Oct. 2026

However, the film’s candy-colored palette (derived from a box of macarons), New Romantic–heavy soundtrack, and countless contemporary winks (eagle-eyed fans will spot those lilac Converse sneakers in the exhibition) are singlehandedly Sofia. — Stephanie Sporn, HollywoodReporter, 5 Oct. 2026

It’s presented without winks or nudges, neither as a joke nor necessarily foolish. — Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026

The new Scary Movie, from writer-stars Marlon and Shawn Wayans and director Michael Tiddes, opens with knowing winks to the 2000 original film, which featured Electra in a scene inspired by Drew Barrymore's opening scene in Scream. — Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 6 June 2026

There are a lot of knowing nods and winks to past horror landmarks as well, notably Videodrome and The Shining, and more than a few gentle ribbings of the clichés of the Golden Age of slashers. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 20 May 2026

Her work explores healing from childhood trauma, perfectionism, motherhood, and the quiet synchronistic winks that guide us to the miracles awaiting us. — Literary Hub, 15 May 2026

The actress stars as Cathy in Emerald Fennell's adaptation of Emily Brontë's novel—and so far, the press tour has been filled with knowing winks and nods to the source material. — Meg Walters, InStyle, 28 Jan. 2026

Verb

When an airless body, such as an asteroid, occults (or hides) a background star the star's light winks out in an instant, before suddenly reappearing. — Keith Cooper, Space.com, 10 Aug. 2026

When new employee Theint (Nandar Myint Lwin) tells a white lie to cover for her after an unauthorized bathroom break, San Kyi’s face turns positively radiant with gratitude, while Teint merely winks in response. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 11 July 2026

The film, from director Susanne Bier, opens September 11, and the first teaser showed the old house that was rebuilt meticulously, as well as the two Owens sisters getting up to a whole lot of witchy stuff and some sly winks. — Brian Welk, IndieWire, 14 Apr. 2026

The hotel itself is a rhapsody in clean, modern design that subtly winks to the legion efforts behind it. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Jan. 2026

But when the lights go off and consciousness winks out, another, deeper process goes to work. — Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 8 Aug. 2025

Referencing the Founder An impressive number of artworks and floral motifs pervade the vast store, winks to founder Christian Dior’s early days as a gallery owner and his lifelong love of plants. — Miles Socha, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019

Phrases Containing winks

• forty winks