as in peering
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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Recent Examples of squinting
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, 30 Jan. 2026
The earlier of Sunday’s two title games, after some squinting, will feature the Denver Broncos hosting the New England Patriots led by quarterbacks Jarrett Stidham and Drake Maye, respectively.
—Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 24 Jan. 2026
Latecomers in search of a view had to take their chances from the very top of the stadium, squinting to see the players dancing on the court below.
—Owen Lewis, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2026
Authorities say the footage shows Peters appeared to be squinting, driving with one eye closed, or struggling to focus.
—Adrienne Davis, jsonline.com, 15 Jan. 2026
Helen takes the envelope, squinting at it in the bright sun, and wonders for a moment what kind of bad news there is left to get from Nebraska.
—Sadia Shepard, New Yorker, 11 Jan. 2026
As when just standing in the Mingus Quick Stop parking lot and squinting down the street at lifting dust while overhearing from within the most mysterious conversation about missing Little Debbie Honey Buns—not stolen, gradually pilfered, but just missing.
—David Searcy, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Watch your dog for signs of squinting, blinking, runny eyes, or pawing at his face.
—Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 24 Dec. 2025
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, 30 Jan. 2026
The earlier of Sunday’s two title games, after some squinting, will feature the Denver Broncos hosting the New England Patriots led by quarterbacks Jarrett Stidham and Drake Maye, respectively.
—Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 24 Jan. 2026
Latecomers in search of a view had to take their chances from the very top of the stadium, squinting to see the players dancing on the court below.
—Owen Lewis, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2026
Authorities say the footage shows Peters appeared to be squinting, driving with one eye closed, or struggling to focus.
—Adrienne Davis, jsonline.com, 15 Jan. 2026
Helen takes the envelope, squinting at it in the bright sun, and wonders for a moment what kind of bad news there is left to get from Nebraska.
—Sadia Shepard, New Yorker, 11 Jan. 2026
As when just standing in the Mingus Quick Stop parking lot and squinting down the street at lifting dust while overhearing from within the most mysterious conversation about missing Little Debbie Honey Buns—not stolen, gradually pilfered, but just missing.
—David Searcy, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Watch your dog for signs of squinting, blinking, runny eyes, or pawing at his face.
—Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 24 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for squinting
Verb
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Other guests nearby were peering at displays of new pieces from the brand’s Les Pétales and The Bows high jewelry collections.—
Kristen Tauer,
Footwear News,
11 Feb. 2026
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The show began with Bad Bunny peering through some tall grass as if in a sugar cane field in Puerto Rico.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Glamour,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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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
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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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For much of the New Deal legislation passed, the executive branch drafted the legislation and sent it to Congress, which approved it after glancing at it — or not looking at all, Yoo said.—
Mikayla Bunnell,
Hartford Courant,
3 Feb. 2026
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The space weather center warns that the material could bring possible glancing influences that could cause weak power grid fluctuations.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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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
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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
Verb
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Recently seen on the runways of fashion houses like Prada and Balenciaga, the popular trend has been styled with everything from sleeveless dresses, blazers, and jackets to classic riding capes, peeping out of the sleeve slots as seen above.—
Morgan Evans,
InStyle,
15 Jan. 2026
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The looming threat of a full shutdown hit the Smokies just in time for leaf-peeping season and fall break, a particularly busy period that helps local businesses survive through the winter.—
Paige Williams,
New Yorker,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Squinting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/squinting. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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