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

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.

It may wink at the industry’s unseen heroes, but who can afford to make art for art’s sake in the entertainment industry anymore?

From Los Angeles Times • May 20, 2026

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

It likes to nod and wink at its subjects, including those in on the joke.

From Salon • Feb. 27, 2025

His rendition of Fly Me To the Moon impressed the judges, as did his boyish charm - he showed a cheeky streak when he flashed a mid-song wink at Girls Aloud star Cheryl.

From BBC • Oct. 16, 2024

He turned around once to wink at me and then kept right along.

From "Where Things Come Back" by John Corey Whaley

wink at

Example Sentences

Related Words