Last night I did not get a wink of sleep.
Source: tatoeba (30154)
Wink
/ˈwɪŋk/
Synonyms for "wink" (216 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (44)
Strong matches (64)
Verb(1 words)
flutterfog bellfog signalfog whistlefoghornforty winksgentle hintgesturegive a signalgive the nodglanceglimmerglimmeringglimpseglistengo lightgong buoygreen lighthailhail and speak
Show 32 more words
half a jiffyhalf a mohalf a secondhalf a shakehalf an eyehalf-mastheliographhigh signhinthoist a bannerimplicationindexindicationinklinginnuendoinsinuationinstantinternational alphabet flaginternational numeral pennantintimationjiffjiffykickleerlookmake a signmarker beaconmicrosecondmillisecondminutemomentnap
Related words (108)
Verb(4 words)
nictitatenodnudgeparachute flarepeekpeeppilot flagpokepolice whistlepromptquarantine flagquick sightradio beaconraise a cryrapid glancered flagred lightrocketroman candlesailing aid
Show 74 more words
salutescentsecsecondsemaphoresemaphore flagsemaphore telegraphshadeshakesiestasignsignalsignal beaconsignal bellsignal firesignal flagsignal gongsignal gunsignal lampsignal lightsignal mastsignal postsignal rocketsignal shotsignal sirensignal towersignalizeslantsmacksnoozesound an alarmsound the trumpetsoupconspar buoysparklespeaksplit secondspoorspot of sleepsquinchsquintsquizstop lightstrokesuggestionsuspicionsymptomtastetelltalethe nodthe winkticktouchtracetracktraffic lighttraffic signaltricetwinktwinkletwinklingtwitchtwo shakesunfurl a flagwatch firewavewave a flagwave the handwhisperwhite flagwigwagwigwag flagwink of sleepyellow flag
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: blink, nictitate, aid to navigation, alarm, amber light.
- Sentence evidence is available for wink, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, wiktionary, moby, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "wink".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "wink"
Keep "wink" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "wink" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "wink", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "wink" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
39 entriesShowing 16 of 39 words.
More specific
12 entriesCollocations
10 entriesbrief winkconspiratorial winkfriendly winkprivate winkrapid winkromantic winksecret winksubtle winkwink gesturewink of an eye
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
8 entriesSample sentences
28 total sentences available.
I could hardly get a wink of sleep last night.
Source: tatoeba (30158)
As quick as a wink.
Source: tatoeba (32499)
I scarcely slept a wink.
Source: tatoeba (33300)
Showing 4 of 28 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "wink"?
Closest matches include blink, nictitate, aid to navigation, alarm, amber light.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "wink"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.