1
as in twinkling
to shine with light at regular intervals
she loves to sit in the dark and watch the lights on the Christmas tree blink in ever-changing patterns
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in squinting
to rapidly open and close one's eyes
I blinked for a few seconds after the camera flashed
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in succumbing
to cease resistance (as to another's arguments, demands, or control)
for two days the nations stood on the brink of war, until one finally blinked
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in staring
to look long and hard in wonder or surprise
stood blinking at the ridiculous scene before him in utter disbelief
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of blinking
By labeling neurons with fluorescent proteins, each neural impulse appears as a tiny flash of light—like stars blinking in the dark.
—
Matt Emma, USA Today, 24 Jan. 2026
On a recent chilly afternoon in Copenhagen, sitting outside a cafe with blinking heat lamps, Company Sergeant Major Henrik Bager shared a Danish expression.
—Barbara Sprunt, NPR, 23 Jan. 2026
Trump keeps blinking and tries to cover his tracks, as things returned more or less to the status quo.
—Elizabeth Shackelford, Chicago Tribune, 22 Jan. 2026
So the eyes' location, protection from blinking eyelids and constant tear production work in unison to keep them from freezing.
—Jeff Wagner, CBS News, 21 Jan. 2026
During this time, Peters appeared to be blinking, slowly closing his eyes and squinting until his eyes were almost closed, according to the criminal complaint.
—Adrienne Davis, jsonline.com, 15 Jan. 2026
Image courtesy of the researchers A team of researchers in China has developed a remarkable device to allow people with limited mobility to use computers and experience VR content by moving their eyeballs – and to power the gadget simply by blinking.
—Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 12 Jan. 2026
Centennial and Westminster are among the cities in Colorado that don’t allow blinking neon lights outside of businesses, Glen Weseloh said.
—Noelle Phillips, Denver Post, 11 Jan. 2026
Any muscles used for movement — including those involved in speaking, chewing, swallowing, seeing, blinking, breathing and walking — can be affected.
—Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 10 Jan. 2026
Matt Emma, USA Today, 24 Jan. 2026
On a recent chilly afternoon in Copenhagen, sitting outside a cafe with blinking heat lamps, Company Sergeant Major Henrik Bager shared a Danish expression.
—Barbara Sprunt, NPR, 23 Jan. 2026
Trump keeps blinking and tries to cover his tracks, as things returned more or less to the status quo.
—Elizabeth Shackelford, Chicago Tribune, 22 Jan. 2026
So the eyes' location, protection from blinking eyelids and constant tear production work in unison to keep them from freezing.
—Jeff Wagner, CBS News, 21 Jan. 2026
During this time, Peters appeared to be blinking, slowly closing his eyes and squinting until his eyes were almost closed, according to the criminal complaint.
—Adrienne Davis, jsonline.com, 15 Jan. 2026
Image courtesy of the researchers A team of researchers in China has developed a remarkable device to allow people with limited mobility to use computers and experience VR content by moving their eyeballs – and to power the gadget simply by blinking.
—Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 12 Jan. 2026
Centennial and Westminster are among the cities in Colorado that don’t allow blinking neon lights outside of businesses, Glen Weseloh said.
—Noelle Phillips, Denver Post, 11 Jan. 2026
Any muscles used for movement — including those involved in speaking, chewing, swallowing, seeing, blinking, breathing and walking — can be affected.
—Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 10 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blinking
Verb
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The team Pep Guardiola built in the early 2010s, combining the wonderful passing of Xavi Hernandez and Andrés Iniesta with the twinkling magic of Lionel Messi, will forever be remembered.—
Zak Garner-Purkis,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
-
The stars are twinkling down at them, adding cool light to the 91-degree heat.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
16 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Those last 20 minutes are pretty engaging, even if some of that engagement is squinting to see and interpret what’s going on.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
4 Feb. 2026
-
View gallery - 4 images Soldering frequently involves hunching in and squinting at the fiddly task at hand, or performing that task under an unmoving magnifying glass.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Former New York Jets linebacker Darron Lee has been arrested and charged in the murder of his girlfriend, who was found brutalized at a home in Tennessee on Thursday before succumbing to her injuries.—
Jami Ganz,
Mercury News,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Former New York Jets linebacker Darron Lee has been arrested and charged in the murder of his girlfriend, who was found brutalized at a home in Tennessee on Thursday before succumbing to her injuries.—
Jami Ganz,
New York Daily News,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
When Ali Ansari was 12, living with his family in a single room at his aunt’s house in Woodland Hills, his immigrant mother told him to stop wasting time staring at his phone and try making money with it.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Shortly thereafter, the two women heard a loud bang and exited the bedroom to find Toth lying on the kitchen floor and staring blankly at the ceiling, the report said.—
Silas Morgan,
The Orlando Sentinel,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Suleyman cited the exponential growth in computational power as a flashing red signal that AI could replace large swaths of professionals.—
Jake Angelo,
Fortune,
13 Feb. 2026
-
That’s a good way to avoid tailgating, flashing lights or a sounding horn — and possible road rage.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Wright is looking forward to submitting her film to other film festivals after being a part of Balentine’s local series.—
Darcel Rockett,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Both said they were not contacted by the committee after submitting their complaints.—
Emma Murphy,
Oklahoma Voice,
12 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Getting rocked to sleep in a comfortable bed while gazing out the window is not to be missed.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Feb. 2026
-
In the Kardashian-Jenner version, Jenner, in a plunging black dress, played the part of Loren, gazing over at Kardashian who smiled at the camera in a blonde wig and plunging white silk dress.—
Meg Walters,
InStyle,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The restaurant is set in a historic, 1850s-era building, with an intimate but lively dining room decked with glistening chandeliers and warm candlelight flickering on cream brick walls.—
Rachel Bernhard,
jsonline.com,
30 Jan. 2026
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But now, with recent events in Minnesota, that 2020 spirit seems to be tentatively flickering back to life.—
Jemele Hill,
The Atlantic,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Blinking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blinking. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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