as in peered
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.
Related Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of squinted
McNutt said as Murray squinted down at the stands and zoomed in to catch a photo of the pop superstar for his wife.
—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
11 June 2026
Pok squinted against his bedroom's harsh, swinging light.
—
Danielle Parker,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
Dressed in periwinkle, Annie took off her shoes in front of the sunflowers, sat down, squinted into the sunlight and smiled.
—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Mar. 2026
Carson squinted at prices before hooking the fuel nozzle to the tank of his scarlet Buick.
—
Rachel Swan,
San Francisco Chronicle,
5 Mar. 2026
Giles cranked the boat back around, leaned out from behind the steering wheel and squinted past a bright glare on the water.
—
Kelso Harper,
Scientific American,
16 Dec. 2025
Amid the eucalyptus groves at Natural Bridges State Beach in Santa Cruz, local bug enthusiast Sasha Hernandez squinted through the draping green leaves, searching for flashes of black and orange — the wings of migratory monarch butterflies traveling from west of the Rocky Mountains.
—
Olivia Maule,
Mercury News,
6 Dec. 2025
The page squinted up at the nightingale, her dull feathers and stippled breast.
—
Hazlitt,
19 Nov. 2025
The Babycatcher looked up at the sky and squinted.
—
Literary Hub,
16 Oct. 2025
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
11 June 2026
Pok squinted against his bedroom's harsh, swinging light.
—
Danielle Parker,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
Dressed in periwinkle, Annie took off her shoes in front of the sunflowers, sat down, squinted into the sunlight and smiled.
—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Mar. 2026
Carson squinted at prices before hooking the fuel nozzle to the tank of his scarlet Buick.
—
Rachel Swan,
San Francisco Chronicle,
5 Mar. 2026
Giles cranked the boat back around, leaned out from behind the steering wheel and squinted past a bright glare on the water.
—
Kelso Harper,
Scientific American,
16 Dec. 2025
Amid the eucalyptus groves at Natural Bridges State Beach in Santa Cruz, local bug enthusiast Sasha Hernandez squinted through the draping green leaves, searching for flashes of black and orange — the wings of migratory monarch butterflies traveling from west of the Rocky Mountains.
—
Olivia Maule,
Mercury News,
6 Dec. 2025
The page squinted up at the nightingale, her dull feathers and stippled breast.
—
Hazlitt,
19 Nov. 2025
The Babycatcher looked up at the sky and squinted.
—
Literary Hub,
16 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for squinted
Verb
-
As rain drizzled and the humidity bore down, the president peered at blueprints for the public golf course, before driving to his own course in Virginia via the Arlington Memorial Bridge, near where his Triumphal Arch may soon be built.
-
As the players conversed and enjoyed their afternoon off, a curious Andrés, then 18 years old, peered through the kitchen window, too shy to join the conversation.
Verb
-
Partey then glanced back at the defender before continuing on his way.
-
Basallo misjudged it, taking an unhurried shuffle up the line, before the ball glanced off his glove and rolled toward the Dodgers dugout.
Verb
-
Malik Tillman stared at the ball for a free kick just outside the box, to the left of the goal.
-
Roberto Baggio stared at the ground next to the 12-yard penalty spot in California after sending Italy’s final attempt over the crossbar in the 1994 World Cup final against Brazil — the first time a men’s tournament had been decided on penalties.
Verb
-
As Ford, Collins, and Ripley looked up, the green lights blinked on, confirming the signal had been received.
-
Then, yesterday, Washington blinked, withdrawing the controls.
Cite this Entry
“Squinted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/squinted. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
