winked

past tense of wink
1
as in blinked
to rapidly open and close one's eyes she winked several times to get the dust and grit out of her eyes

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
3
4
as in ignored
to secretly sympathize with or pretend ignorance of something improper or unlawful the whole sporting world seems to wink as untold sums are bet on the outcome of the Super Bowl

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 winked The Baronessa winked and stated that the princess was an inspiration to others. Literary Hub, 9 June 2026 Ten hours later, its transponder winked back into life due north of Abu Dhabi, heading for Bahrain. Priyanjana Bengani, Bloomberg, 7 Mar. 2026 Sartorial outerwear crafted from archival fabrics mingled with pieces that winked to utility and workwear, with a few styles looking to balance these two souls in a single design, such as double wool hooded capes and coats. Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 2 Mar. 2026 Stayton then reportedly winked and told the protester they'd be charged with a felony. Jolene Almendarez, Cincinnati Enquirer, 12 Nov. 2025 The last ember of Rope A winked out. Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025 With both drugs, the alignment of brain waves shifted in similar ways as the animals’ consciousness waned and then winked out. Big Think, 20 Aug. 2025 Dangling like Christmas ornaments, the aluminum plates winked in the sun, evoking Yuletide in the depths of July. Monitor Contributors, Christian Science Monitor, 11 July 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for winked
Verb
  • As Ford, Collins, and Ripley looked up, the green lights blinked on, confirming the signal had been received.
    Robert Pearlman, ArsTechnica, 1 July 2026
  • Then, yesterday, Washington blinked, withdrawing the controls.
    Craig S. Smith, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Verb
  • Before a big night out or even just dinner with friends, lids twinkled, cheekbones caught the light from every angle, and lip gloss doubled as a mirror.
    Annie Blay-Tettey, Allure, 22 Apr. 2026
  • Animated pixie dust twinkled on the screen, courtesy of the fairy, Tinker Bell.
    Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • That night, the northern lights gleamed cold and hard, and the moon bathed the whole landscape in bleak, eerie light.
    Dolores Brown, Outdoor Life, 17 June 2026
  • The 4,202-pipe organ gleamed over us.
    Shayla Love, The Atlantic, 24 May 2026
Verb
  • Their food might be the first mention in Talat’s many accolades, but their bar program can’t be ignored.
    Blair Crosby, AJC.com, 5 July 2026
  • Not only were the rules misapplied, according to an expert referee with years of elite experience, but similar plays during this tournament have been ignored.
    Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
Verb
  • 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
Verb
  • After the video assistant referee urged him to watch a replay, however, Claus walked away from the monitor and flashed the red card at Balogun, a judgment many immediately deemed overly harsh.
    Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026
  • East2West footage showed the overnight barrage from inside Kyiv, including a baby sleeping as explosions flashed outside an open window and smoke from an earlier strike rose nearby.
    Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026
Verb
  • After spending some time by the pool, a semi-Olympic lined with emerald and malachite mosaics that glinted in the soft, ambient light, followed by a quick trip to the sauna, I was escorted to my treatment room, about a half-flight of stairs up, where I was met by Marcia, my therapist.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 June 2026
  • The silver Chrysler Sebring glinted when the sun kissed the parking lot in Temple, Texas, sitting by its lonesome.
    Luca Evans, Denver Post, 8 May 2026
Verb
  • Her heart hammered away, her eyes flickered, and her voice grew tiny and plaintive.
    Will Mackin, New Yorker, 28 June 2026
  • SportsCenter flickered on several televisions.
    Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 10 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Winked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/winked. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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