as in to stare
to take a look with the eyes narrowed (as because of difficulty seeing)
He squinted in her direction, but couldn't make her out with the sun behind her.
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1
as in strabismus
British
difficulty in seeing resulting from improper alignment of the eyes
The child was born with a squint that was eventually corrected through surgery.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of squint
Sam Vecenie, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2026
And squinting is not necessary to see a vision for him.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 27 Feb. 2026
Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Byrne has never been better, sharper, or more intimidating as a screen presence, carrying the movie with squints and frowns.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 6 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for squint
Verb
Even though Ament is flawed, teams can squint and see the upside in a 6-foot-10 wing who can dribble, pass and shoot.
—Sam Vecenie, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2026
And squinting is not necessary to see a vision for him.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 27 Feb. 2026
Noun
And in a third, the gaunt 30-year-old killer flexes, purses his lips and squints.
—Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Byrne has never been better, sharper, or more intimidating as a screen presence, carrying the movie with squints and frowns.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 6 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for squint
Recent Examples of Synonyms for squint
Verb
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Researchers placed food near a person who either stared directly at nearby gulls or deliberately looked away.—
Samantha Agate,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 Mar. 2026
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Food was placed near a person who either stared directly at nearby gulls or deliberately looked away.—
Samantha Agate,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Barrel Cards The barrel card exercise can help improve symptoms of strabismus (crossed eyes).—
Laura Schober,
Health,
12 Feb. 2025
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One of his conditions, strabismus,has also been reported by researchers to be behind the genius of Leonardo da Vinci, allowing the painter to perceive the world differently and facilitating his accurate depiction of three-dimensional objects on flat surfaces.—
Maya Davis,
CNN,
4 Aug. 2024
Noun
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Rather, Lawrence focused his gaze on the multiracial mass of people who had come together to view the inauguration.—
Michael Lobel,
Artforum,
1 Apr. 2026
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With his head bowed and gaze fixed, the golden retriever looks less like a pet on a routine car ride and more like a main character in a melancholy music video.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The astronauts will take turns peering through Orion’s windows with cameras.—
Marcia Dunn,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2026
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The blank walls stared at her, vacant pinholes made by previous tenants peering down like dark, shrunken pupils.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
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For users with astigmatism, the solution is less straightforward: the company plans to release an external prescription lens frame that can be fitted with custom lenses at an optical store.—
Maryna Holovnova,
New Atlas,
6 Mar. 2026
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Benjamin Franklin would invent bifocals in 1874, Thomas Young would spot the uneven curvature of the cornea (astigmatism) in 1801, and steel wire would be developed in metal frames after 1837.—
Daniel Fusch,
Ascend Agency,
11 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Its glare-free screen also helps keep reflections away so you won't be distracted.—
George Yang,
PC Magazine,
27 Mar. 2026
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But their strategy was fouled up when the car’s occupants switched on the headlights, throwing a glare up the tote road along which the wardens had planned to sprint.—
Dave Duffey,
Outdoor Life,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Driver monitoring systems, designed to detect distracted drivers, were also ineffective in allowing for off-road glances to go unnoticed, the NTSB found.—
Alexandra Skores,
CNN Money,
31 Mar. 2026
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The pup can be seen glancing around his kennel with teary eyes, appearing scared and confused.—
Maria Azzurra Volpe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
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One in four children has vision problems that directly impact academic performance, according to the American Optometric Association.—
Christina Mayo,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
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That vision of worldwide economic and cultural interdependence that enabled the proliferation of biennials in the ’90s has been steadily eroding amid the recent rise in nativism and far-right movements in the United States and Europe.—
Smooth Nzewi,
Artforum,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Squint.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/squint. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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