kink 1 of 2

noun

ˈkiŋk How to pronounce kink (audio)
Definition of kinknext
1
as in cramp
a painful sudden tightening of a muscle got a kink in my neck from lying in that awkward position for too long

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in trick
an odd or peculiar habit the boss's fondness for nicknames is one of those kinks that staffers just have to put up with

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in whim
a sudden impulsive and apparently unmotivated idea or action whenever he got a kink in his head, he'd drop whatever he was doing to pursue this latest obsession

Synonyms & Similar Words

kink

2 of 2

verb

as in to loop

Related Words

Dissimilar 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 kink
Noun
Your work has long played with pleasure, kink and the tension between what is proper and what is provocative — from your infamous jockstraps to the recent patent leather groom who closed the recent men’s show in Milan. — Tyler Matthew Oyer, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026 Complications still have to be sorted out However, there are kinks to work out. — Sarah Agostino, CNBC, 29 Sep. 2026
Verb
But Pillion’s relationship isn’t meant to be a model for how to do kink well. — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 20 Feb. 2026 Each attachment can connect to an extra-long, 22-foot hose that doesn’t kink, and is flexible enough to easily maneuver around obstacles and corners. — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for kink
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kink
  1. cramp
  2. trick
  3. whim
  4. loop
  5. stitch
  6. twist
  7. warp
  8. characteristic
Noun
  • People who have been infected with salmonella may experience diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps, usually six hours to six days after swallowing the bacteria, health officials said.
    — Victoria Craw, Washington Post, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The most common symptoms include fever, diarrhea and abdominal cramps.
    — Renee Anderson, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of cramp
Noun
  • Today, our constructor has reached into his evidently limitless bag of tricks to pull out a doozy of a Thursday grid.
    — Sean McGowan, New York Times, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The subtle, but unmistakable, undercurrent of apple sweetness struck me as a bit of a magic trick in a bread that, otherwise, to the eye and hand was just a soft white loaf.
    — Noah Kaufman, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of trick
Noun
  • While mega oil and gas companies pay for some of the greatest intelligence in the world, even the world's greatest intelligence gatherers are subject to the whims of rogues with missile launchers.
    — Brian Sullivan, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026
  • From here on out, the authorship of Tae-ju’s life is ambiguous, as well as constantly in flux, buffeted by the whims and suggestions of others, as well as by her own impulses.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of whim
Verb
  • Sandy Jones grew up on a southeastern North Carolina farm and learned to loop from her mother.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Employees also need a basic understanding of how to communicate with it effectively, what to ask, how to give feedback and when to loop in a human instead.
    — Doron Sitbon, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of loop
Noun
  • Latest injury report KU sophomore Kohl Rosario needed 14 stitches after getting elbowed at practice Friday and did not attend the game.
    — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The Roger Clubhouse has more than initially meets the eye with its all-white colorway, as the laces feature a shaggy texture and two red stitch embellishments are added at the heel.
    — Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of stitch
Noun
  • Chrissy’s discovery sets the stage for a twist that merely draws unfavorable comparisons to far better speculative science fiction about our growing dependence on AI companionship.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Bar manager Giovanni Allario weaves unexpected twists into classics, like the Pesto Martini with vodka, white balsamic vinegar, and homemade pesto and a Gremolada Negroni with notes of lemon and parsley.
    — Jaclyn DeGiorgio, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of twist
Verb
  • At the same time, the currents of self-optimization and growing conservatism are warping the status quo toward a curve-free catwalk.
    — Joe Bobowicz, Vogue, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Working from a plus-size model’s body as her starting point for pattern-making, silhouettes were subsequently distorted, creating a second layer that appeared to slip and warp around the body.
    — Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of warp
Noun
  • If researchers can reliably take advantage of these characteristics, biological computing could one day be the prime choice in applications where systems need to adapt to unfamiliar conditions in a field far from home.
    — Mike McRae October 19, New Atlas, 20 Oct. 2026
  • The challenge is to broaden a brand’s appeal without diluting the characteristics that distinguish it from competitors.
    — Yiling Pan, Vogue, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of characteristic

Browse Nearby Words

king snakes
kink
kinked
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Cite this Entry

“Kink.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kink. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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