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Definitions

wink at

VERB
absolve
Synonyms
STRONGEST
acquit exempt exonerate forgive pardon relieve vindicate
STRONG
bleach clear discharge exculpate excuse free launder liberate loose release sanitize spare spring whitewash
WEAK
blink at go easy on let off let off easy let off the hook let up on lifeboat set free wipe it off wipe the slate clean write off
Antonyms
STRONGEST
accuse blame censure charge condemn convict damn punish sentence
STRONG
hold keep limit restrain
WEAK
bind impeach incriminate obligate
VERB
acquit
Synonyms
STRONGEST
absolve clear discharge exonerate free let go vindicate
STRONG
deliver exculpate excuse liberate release relieve whitewash
WEAK
blink at disculpate let off let off the hook wipe off
Antonyms
STRONGEST
accuse blame charge condemn convict hold incarcerate incriminate punish sentence
STRONG
keep limit restrain
WEAK
censure damn denounce doom
VERB
bypass
Synonyms
STRONGEST
circumvent ignore neglect omit sidestep skirt
STRONG
burke circumnavigate detour finesse outflank
WEAK
blink at depart from deviate from get around go around go around the barn let go pass around take back road
VERB
condone
Synonyms
STRONGEST
excuse forget forgive ignore
STRONG
buy disregard okay overlook pardon remit
WEAK
give green light go along with lap up let it come let it go by let pass look the other way nod at pass over
Antonyms
STRONG
attend deny refuse regard respect veto
WEAK
censure condemn forbid not allow prevent
VERB
coquet
Synonyms
STRONG
dally flirt fool operate philander titillate toy trifle vamp wanton
WEAK
gold-dig lead on make eyes at string along
Antonyms
WEAK
be shy
VERB
disregard
Synonyms
STRONGEST
disobey forget neglect omit overlook
STRONG
cold-shoulder contemn despise discount disdain disparage fail miss overpass pooh-pooh scorn slight snub vilipend
WEAK
blink at brush aside brush away brush off have no use for laugh off leave out of account let go let off easy let pass live with look the other way pass over pay no attention to pay no heed to pay no mind shut eyes to take no notice of tune out turn a blind eye turn a deaf ear
Antonyms
STRONGEST
regard remember
STRONG
admire approve compliment flatter like love praise succeed
WEAK
attend esteem note pay attention respect
VERB
excuse
Synonyms
STRONGEST
acquit condone defend exempt exonerate explain forgive indulge let go pardon relieve spare tolerate
STRONG
alibi appease clear cover discharge exculpate extenuate free liberate mitigate overlook pretext purge rationalize release remit reprieve shrive vindicate whitewash
WEAK
apologize for bear with dispense from exempt from give absolution grant amnesty let off make allowances for pass over plead ignorance shrug off take rap for
Antonyms
STRONGEST
accuse blame censure charge condemn damn hurt punish sentence
STRONG
aggravate hold incite irritate keep limit maintain prevent restrain reveal
VERB
flirt
Synonyms
STRONGEST
tease
STRONG
banter coquet dally disport eyeball fool gam ogle philander pitch proposition
WEAK
bat eyes at come on to hit on lead on linger with make a move make a pass pick up
Antonyms
WEAK
be faithful
VERB
forgive
Synonyms
STRONGEST
absolve condone excuse forget
STRONG
acquit amnesty clear commute efface exculpate exempt exonerate extenuate overlook palliate pocket purge release relent remit reprieve respite spring
WEAK
accept apology allow for bear no malice bear with bury the hatchet dismiss from mind kiss and make up laugh off let bygones be bygones let it go let off let off easy let pass let up on make allowance think no more of turn other cheek wipe the slate clean
Antonyms
STRONGEST
condemn
STRONG
accuse blame hold increase keep maintain sentence
WEAK
censure charge punish
VERB
OK
Synonyms
STRONG
boost buy charter consent franchise grant have humor leave let license okay pass privilege sanction sign warrant
WEAK
abet accede accept acquiesce admit agree allow approbate approve authorize bless blink at concede concur condone empower enable endorse endure give a thumbs-up give leave give permission go for indulge let pass sanctify say yes shake on sign off on suffer take kindly to tolerate
Antonyms
STRONG
deny disagree disapprove hinder hold keep prevent refuse sell veto
VERB
overlook
Synonyms
STRONGEST
disregard ignore
STRONG
condone excuse forgive handle stomach take whitewash
WEAK
bear with blink at go along with grin and bear it let bygones be bygones let go let pass live with look the other way pay no mind play past put up with roll with punches stand for swim with the tide tune out turn blind eye to wipe the slate clean
Antonyms
STRONGEST
note pay attention regard
STRONG
censure refuse reject
WEAK
attend deny follow heed honor look at notice prevent respect serve veto
VERB
pardon
Synonyms
STRONGEST
absolve acquit discharge excuse exonerate tolerate
STRONG
accept amnesty clear condone exculpate free justify liberate lifeboat overlook release remit reprieve rescue spring
WEAK
blink at bury the hatchet give absolution grant amnesty let off let off easy suspend charges wipe the slate clean write off
Antonyms
STRONGEST
blame charge condemn convict hold incriminate sentence
STRONG
deny keep limit prevent refuse restrain
WEAK
chastise damn ostracize penalize punish
VERB
permit
Synonyms
STRONGEST
accept authorize boost empower enable endorse grant have license sanction tolerate warrant
STRONG
abet accede acquiesce admit agree bless buy charter concede concur condone consent endure franchise humor indulge leave let okay pass privilege sanctify sign suffer
WEAK
blink at give leave give permission go for let pass say yes shake on sign off on take kindly to thumbs-up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
deny disallow disapprove halt hinder oppose prevent refuse reject stop veto
STRONG
condemn contradict differ disagree dispute dissent fight forbid hold hurt impede keep object obstruct protest sell
VERB
tolerate
Synonyms
STRONGEST
abide accept brook condone countenance endure permit stand for
STRONG
admit authorize bear go have hear humor pocket receive sanction stand stomach suffer sustain swallow take undergo
WEAK
bear with blink at consent to go along with live with put up with sit and take it sit still for stay the course string along submit to tough out
Antonyms
STRONGEST
deny disagree disallow dispute refuse reject
STRONG
abstain avoid discontinue dodge exclude expel give offer stop veto
WEAK
check disapprove halt
VERB
trifle
Synonyms
STRONG
coquet dabble dally dawdle dilly-dally doodle fidget flirt fool fritter idle loiter lollygag lounge misuse monkey palter philander play potter putter squander toy twiddle wanton waste
WEAK
amuse oneself be insincere fool around fool with fribble futz around horse around indulge in lead on mess with monkey with play games with play with string along use up waste time
Antonyms
STRONG
hasten hoard hurry push rush save work

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Downing was “adept at switching between the material and the spiritual,” a realist willing to wink at disagreements and who favored “subtlety, sophistication and restraint.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 11, 2026

The line is supposed to be a little funny, a wink at the fashion industry’s love of effusive word salad descriptions that are only conveyed in the actual garments about half the time.

From Salon • Sep. 17, 2025

“We get onstage and we wink at each other and go, ‘Can you believe this?’

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 22, 2024

Top-40 listeners knew him as Chuck Forest and, with a wink at Henry David Thoreau, Carl Walden.

From New York Times • Jan. 23, 2024

Once she had allowed other residents to wink at her, and had sometimes even winked back.

From "Typical American" by Gish Jen