1
as in twinkles
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
3
as in succumbs
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 stares
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
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Recent Examples of blinks
Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Between scenes, for instance, the illuminated proscenium blinks ominously, as if in code.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 29 Jan. 2026
Every time the user blinks, their eyelid rubs against the PDMS contact lens.
—Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 12 Jan. 2026
No one blinks an eye today at the kind of vivacious, confident woman Margaret Avery portrayed in The Color Purple.
—Diedre Johnson, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Dec. 2025
Whichever side blinks is considered cowardly by the media, but probably not by the voters.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 10 Nov. 2025
The green Christmas light blinks in horror.
—Literary Hub, 7 Nov. 2025
In a YouTube video, the robot’s head glances around with a quizzical expression and blinks in a way that is eerily lifelike.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 22 Sep. 2025
The button is surrounded by an LED that blinks to warn you if the door is unlocked.
—PC Magazine, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
Maybe somebody blinks and the Rangers get a better result.
—Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Between scenes, for instance, the illuminated proscenium blinks ominously, as if in code.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 29 Jan. 2026
Every time the user blinks, their eyelid rubs against the PDMS contact lens.
—Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 12 Jan. 2026
No one blinks an eye today at the kind of vivacious, confident woman Margaret Avery portrayed in The Color Purple.
—Diedre Johnson, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Dec. 2025
Whichever side blinks is considered cowardly by the media, but probably not by the voters.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 10 Nov. 2025
The green Christmas light blinks in horror.
—Literary Hub, 7 Nov. 2025
In a YouTube video, the robot’s head glances around with a quizzical expression and blinks in a way that is eerily lifelike.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 22 Sep. 2025
The button is surrounded by an LED that blinks to warn you if the door is unlocked.
—PC Magazine, 3 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blinks
Verb
-
Meanwhile, Charles squints at the phone.—
Allegra Goodman,
New Yorker,
4 Jan. 2026
-
Wiesmair squints at his smartphone, which is logged on to a database of European moth species.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The Shakespearean classic focuses on Macbeth, a Scottish general who makes his prophecy of becoming king a reality but then succumbs to madness.—
Alyson Rodriguez,
Dallas Morning News,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Her sexuality is a source of conflict for her family, and the pressure leads to the painful breakup with her girlfriend, Rosie (Jess Gabor), who succumbs to family expectations.—
Robert Lang,
Deadline,
17 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
As Ji Seon stares in shock, her friends cheer in the background, chanting at her to say yes, ha.—
Hannah Abraham,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Providing some respite from the violent mayhem are scenes in which Manafort stares intently at computer screens tracking what’s going on and the new MI6 chief (Ackie) barks orders at her underlings.—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Auroras during minor storms often appear as faint glows or subtle movement before intensifying.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Kind of two orange glows, like someone had lit two tiny matches out in space.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Outside, the world flashes by, a slideshow of rivers growing into oceans, deserts rising into mountains and cities sprawling then receding into darkness as the train thunders on through the night.—
Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Jessica then zooms in on her husband, who flashes her a toothy smile.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
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
Verb
-
Going into Wednesday’s games, the Lakers rank 27th in opposing field goal percentage and 24th in defensive rating, an estimate of the amount of points a team concedes across a 100-possession span.—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
5 Feb. 2026
-
McDermott avoids houseplants for a simple house but concedes that any small, tidy plant that doesn't require much upkeep would be fine.—
Lee Wallender,
The Spruce,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
As for the tourists, their van pulls up, far in the background of a long shot that gazes through the grand lobby of the hotel—where, in the foreground, a small folk orchestra of blind musicians, accompanied by a dance troupe’s festive gyrations, provides a showy welcome.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Curving around the glistening, glacial Sarmiento Lake, an amphitheater of rooms gazes up at the Paine massif, with scenes constantly shifting depending on the time of day.—
Sarah Marshall,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Blinks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blinks. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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