TWINKLES Synonyms: 58 Similar and Opposite Words

twinkles 1 of 2

noun

plural of twinkle

as in minutes

a very small space of time in just a twinkle, the shooting star was gone

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

twinkles

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of twinkle

as in flashes

to shine with light at regular intervals holiday decorations twinkled in the shop windows

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in gleams

to shoot forth bursts of light stars twinkling on a crisp September night

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 twinkles

Noun

The cups on display, with sleek forms and graphic twinkles, immediately felt relatable yet also transcendent, the boundary between life and art blissfully obliterated. — Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 24 Aug. 2026 And Georges delivers—come for the smart, international menu and panoramic views over Paris (especially appealing at night, when the Eiffel Tower twinkles with light). — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Aug. 2026 Perch yourself in the Hollywood Hills and watch as the city twinkles below at night. — Kristin Braswell, Architectural Digest, 30 June 2026 But, there will be progress, if not twinkles of excitement. — Troy Renck, Denver Post, 27 Mar. 2026 Death twinkles in this landscape like mineral sand. — Literary Hub, 5 Mar. 2026 Downtown, the Plaza twinkles with thousands of string lights. — Zoe Baillargeon, Travel + Leisure, 20 Dec. 2025 This Lowcountry gem nestled on Port Royal Island is magical year-round, but at Christmas, Beaufort’s glow twinkles even brighter. — Stephanie Hunt, Southern Living, 28 Nov. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for twinkles

Noun

Slemmer was beaten and cut with a meat cleaver and a box cutter for somewhere between 30 minutes and an hour.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026
According to Rubin, online criticisms against the store emerged 15 minutes after Clarkson left the store.

— Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of minutes

Verb

This option from Vantamo flashes a bright light and emits a 130-decibel sound from dual speakers whenever the top pin is pulled, alerting passersby of the emergency and scaring off potential assailants.

— Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 20 Sep. 2026
The show then flashes forward to the other women emotionally processing the news of his overdose and coming together at Angie’s to console one another and share memories of Robert.

— Tom Smyth, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of flashes

Verb

Like Beckham’s dress, the 100-percent silk dress softly gleams in the light.

— Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 12 Dec. 2025
Despite a couple of funky skips, the album is fueled by the hunger of an artist who really wants the pop life again, perking up electro-scuzz and arena rock with new wave that gleams like glitter.

— Pitchfork, Pitchfork, 4 Dec. 2025

Definition of gleams

Verb

The red neon casting a Hopper-esque glow over the parking lot flickers as a train goes by.

— Amanda Lee Koe, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
Layered background sighs, a resonant lead vocal, autumnal acoustic guitar flickers, synths both eerie and trippy—James has all his tricks on tap.

— Ryan Leas, Pitchfork, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of flickers

Verb

The air is perfectly warm, the sunshine glints on the water, happy people pass by and wave.

— Kristy Woodson Harvey, Southern Living, 18 July 2026
That, from time to time, during his endless task, the sun glints across the rock’s face in a way that reminds him that there were good times, or at least different times.

— Hanif Abdurraqib, New Yorker, 12 May 2026

Definition of glints

Noun

The fastest breakout was 27 seconds, and one intrusion reached full data exfiltration in four minutes.

— Asaf Wiener, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Mahomes spent roughly a dozen seconds venting about a topic neither of them want to detail now, before Eric Bieniemy nodded his head.

— Sam McDowell October 16, Kansas City Star, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of seconds

Verb

The Tanana River in the background is flowing high, and most of the area between the river and the Bluff sparkles as sun rays glisten on the thousands of small pools and ponds that fill every dip and crevice in the land surface.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026
The repartee sparkles; the farcical touches lighten the tone.

— Leigh Haber, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of sparkles

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twinkled

twinkles

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Style

“Twinkles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/twinkles. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of twinkles

noun

verb

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