twinkled

verb

past tense of twinkle
1
as in flashed
to shine with light at regular intervals holiday decorations twinkled in the shop windows

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in gleamed
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 twinkled And for a slight moment, his eyes twinkled underneath the LED lights inside the Kansas City Royals clubhouse. — Kansas City Star, 24 Sep. 2026 Before a big night out or even just dinner with friends, lids twinkled, cheekbones caught the light from every angle, and lip gloss doubled as a mirror. — Annie Blay-Tettey, Allure, 22 Apr. 2026 Animated pixie dust twinkled on the screen, courtesy of the fairy, Tinker Bell. — Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026 Coakley’s eyes twinkled with a sense of pride. — Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2026 For his 2024 display, more than 900,000 lights twinkled and glowed around his property, so expect many more this season. — Martha Ross, Mercury News, 24 Nov. 2025 The ice twinkled with the light of the sun, which shone 24 hours a day at that time of year. — NPR, 12 Nov. 2025 My astrologer’s eyes twinkled with infuriating delight. — Jessie Rosen, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025 Finn’s eyes, wide and wonderful, twinkled under the Mile High moonlight as the young girl took the stage for the first time. — Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 21 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for twinkled
  1. flashed
  2. gleamed
  3. flickered
  4. glinted
  5. sparkled
  6. shimmered
  7. glittered
  8. shone
Verb
  • At first the owner stared at him blankly, then flashed a look of distaste, as if a dirty rodent had brushed his foot.
    — Rachel Heng, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026
  • The fifth-round pick from Nebraska has flashed as both a runner and pass-catcher behind the Chiefs’ featured back.
    — Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of flashed
Verb
  • In front of the Jabara family, the turquoise waters of Torch Lake gleamed alluringly in the July heat.
    — Rozina Ali, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Further details can only be gleamed from the photos, but what’s plain to see is that the shoe shares much of the same shape as the LeBron 23.
    — Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of gleamed
Verb
  • The shadows of the trees swaying in the breeze flickered across it.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026
  • The stadium lights flickered off, and both teams stood awkwardly as officials huddled at the 20-yard line.
    — David Ubben, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of flickered
Verb
  • After spending some time by the pool, a semi-Olympic lined with emerald and malachite mosaics that glinted in the soft, ambient light, followed by a quick trip to the sauna, I was escorted to my treatment room, about a half-flight of stairs up, where I was met by Marcia, my therapist.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 June 2026
  • The silver Chrysler Sebring glinted when the sun kissed the parking lot in Temple, Texas, sitting by its lonesome.
    — Luca Evans, Denver Post, 8 May 2026
Definition of glinted
Verb
  • In the box office sensation Animal House (1978), directed by John Landis, Weller sparkled as the snooty Mandy, who’s dating the arrogant Omega House chapter president Gregory Marmalard (James Daughton).
    — Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 2 Oct. 2026
  • For her first red carpet as a newlywed, Swift sparkled in Tamara Ralph Couture and loads of rings.
    — Jackie Fields, PEOPLE, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of sparkled
Verb
  • Her body skin shimmered, and her face glowed, looking even brighter with the help of what appear to be light-brown color contact lenses.
    — Marci Robin, Allure, 27 Sep. 2026
  • The outfits shimmered in brilliant colors depending on the lighting, with gold and red most prominent.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of shimmered
Verb
  • Our last breakfast was a beauty—pastries on deck as Toronto glittered ahead.
    — Hannah Agran, Midwest Living, 12 Aug. 2026
  • In a sartorial 180, the star embraced another revealing style moment in a sheer gold Fendi dress that glittered from every angle.
    — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of glittered
Verb
  • The polished green tourmaline of her Bulgari choker shone like some kind of enchanted talisman.
    — Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2026
  • But history shone brightest on Ben Ali, who was trained at Rancho Del Paso and won the 12th Run for the Roses in 1886.
    — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of shone

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Cite this Entry

“Twinkled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/twinkled. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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