as in to ignore
to dismiss as of little importance
for too long the school just winked at the young athletes' hooliganism, dismissing it as a case of "boys being boys"
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wink (at)
Verb
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Get best-in-class reporting that's too important to ignore for just $2.50 $1 per month for 1 year.—
Louryn Strampe,
Wired News,
24 May 2025 -
The Wall Street Journal: Columbia University violated federal civil-rights law by ignoring the harassment of Jewish students by classmates, a government investigation found.—
Alexis Simendinger,
The Hill,
23 May 2025
Verb
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But all those terms are — forgive the pun — on the outs.—
Hannah Edgar,
Chicago Tribune,
29 May 2025
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There are no limits to the number of donations per person, though fines will not be forgiven for library items that are lost or damaged.—
Orlando Sentinel Staff,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 May 2025
Verb
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Tucked between Kamala and Patong beach, the journey to this hidden hillside bar includes a wooden path with photogenic stops, including a floating frame overlooking the Andaman Sea.—
Kaila Yu,
Forbes.com,
29 May 2025
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Overall, the move to focus on individual risks and benefits may overlook broader public health benefits.—
Libby Richards,
The Conversation,
29 May 2025
Verb
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But in the late 19th century, Finkelstein explained, women who'd worked as nurses during the Civil War, even though not part of the Union or Confederate armies, lobbied for and won the right to be buried at Arlington.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
27 May 2025
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As a condition of invitation to the festival, breweries must have a brewer in attendance to answer questions and explain their beers.—
Don Tse,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2025
Verb
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This tactic is sometimes used to justify letting an employee go under the guise of poor performance.—
Sho Dewan,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2025
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By confusing the idea that the people’s will must prevail with what the law actually says, these leaders justify intimidating judges and their sound legal rulings, a move that ultimately undermines democracy.—
Michael Gregory,
The Conversation,
23 May 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Wink (at).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wink%20%28at%29. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.
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