as in to stare
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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1
as in strabismus
British
difficulty in seeing resulting from improper alignment of the eyes
The child was born with a squint that was eventually corrected through surgery.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of squint
Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 17 Apr. 2026
The comic spent some minutes zooming in on and squinting at the photo, putting his hand on his head to ascertain the resemblance.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 13 Apr. 2026
Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Byrne has never been better, sharper, or more intimidating as a screen presence, carrying the movie with squints and frowns.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 6 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for squint
Verb
Needless to say, there was much squinting at computer screens.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 17 Apr. 2026
The comic spent some minutes zooming in on and squinting at the photo, putting his hand on his head to ascertain the resemblance.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 13 Apr. 2026
Noun
And in a third, the gaunt 30-year-old killer flexes, purses his lips and squints.
—Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Byrne has never been better, sharper, or more intimidating as a screen presence, carrying the movie with squints and frowns.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 6 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for squint
Recent Examples of Synonyms for squint
Verb
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Ramzan looked to her, pleading, but Sakeena’s eyes only stared into their reflection on the glass patio door.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 May 2026
-
Inning after inning, the staring contest continued.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Hartford Courant,
3 May 2026
Noun
-
The teen now hopes that EYEVA could one day help those with strabismus on a large scale, and perhaps prevent many from needing invasive corrective surgery.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
26 Apr. 2026
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Barrel Cards The barrel card exercise can help improve symptoms of strabismus (crossed eyes).—
Laura Schober,
Health,
12 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Her head slid down the leather headrest, neck tilting backward for more happiness to escape, clavicle bared to her husband’s confused gaze.—
‘Pemi Aguda,
Literary Hub,
6 May 2026
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By widening the lens, Clark is able to redirect the book’s gaze from the mother toward a quizzical, sometimes critical, but not unaffectionate portrait of two generations of political activism, with the attendant self-involvement and domestic negligence.—
James Wood,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
Verb
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Surveillance video provided by police shows two men dressed in all black, wearing masks, walking through the complex and peering into parked cars.—
Abby Dodge,
CBS News,
5 May 2026
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To many consumers peering in from the outside, the options in China – on display in Beijing this week at the world’s largest auto show – seem like a dream.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
2 May 2026
Noun
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For users with astigmatism, the solution is less straightforward: the company plans to release an external prescription lens frame that can be fitted with custom lenses at an optical store.—
Maryna Holovnova,
New Atlas,
6 Mar. 2026
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Benjamin Franklin would invent bifocals in 1874, Thomas Young would spot the uneven curvature of the cornea (astigmatism) in 1801, and steel wire would be developed in metal frames after 1837.—
Daniel Fusch,
Ascend Agency,
11 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Symptoms include blurry or double vision, floaters, dark spots and trouble seeing in glare or bright light.—
Samantha Agate,
Sacbee.com,
1 May 2026
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With a glare and a snarl and youthful athleticism, the wrong side of history beckons.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
Verb
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McDavid’s only goal was a somewhat fluky power-play tally that glanced off defenseman Pavel Mintyukov’s stick.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
25 Apr. 2026
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The hungry yet uninitiated may enter the new 1986 Steak House, glance around and wonder whose likeness that is on the wall.—
Connie Ogle,
Miami Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Both have stood out for having a long-term strategic vision for football rather than big spending.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
7 May 2026
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Some Democrats revive the promise of single-payer healthcare Some of the sharpest exchanges occurred over single-payer healthcare, a policy vision that Newsom embraced on the campaign trail and abandoned in office when faced with the daunting price tag and political hurdles.—
Ben Paviour
May 6,
Sacbee.com,
6 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Squint.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/squint. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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