1
as in cramps
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 tricks
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 whims
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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of kinks
Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 10 Jan. 2026
The on-again, off-again couple have been dating for over a decade and have (mostly) worked out the kinks of joking about their relationship in public.
—Emma Banks, InStyle, 10 Jan. 2026
SpaceX seems to have worked out much of the kinks developing the Super Heavy booster responsible for launching Starship — though a recent mishap of the booster's latest version did rupture during a pressurization test.
—Josh Dinner, Space.com, 2 Jan. 2026
Coil the Hose Keep your hose in good condition for the coming year by coiling it in large, loose loops to avoid kinks.
—Blythe Copeland, Martha Stewart, 31 Dec. 2025
Subscribers can search for stories by specific tropes and kinks or browse trending stories by Quinn Creators.
—Glamour, 27 Dec. 2025
But Texas will still have its share of creampuff contests at Moody Center in order to develop depth and work through some kinks without worrying too much about a loss.
—Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 22 Dec. 2025
But as Intel works out the kinks after years of delays on previous nodes, some 18A wafers have had defects, making for a lower number of usable chips per wafer, typically referred to as yield.
—Katie Tarasov, CNBC, 19 Dec. 2025
So, working on the labor and the kinks to drive it to full capacity.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 30 Oct. 2025
Noun
For wellness finds, pick up a heated neck massager that can work out kinks from your couch, or an TheraFace LED face mask to improve your complexion, also from your couch.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for kinks
Noun
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Peterson has played limited minutes in the second halves of games since returning from his two-game absence also caused by cramps.—
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That included three or more loose stools within a 24-hour period, or what is more than normal for that specific person, or vomiting with one of the following symptoms – diarrhea, muscle aches, headaches, abdominal cramps or a fever.—
Noun
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There is no one organizational system that fits every family and lifestyle, but there are some tips and tricks that help.—
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So what are their go-to tricks for creating a space worth hibernating in?—
Noun
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Not as freaks to be studied from afar, mimicked, and exploited for other people’s creative whims or amusement, but as complex and whole parts of the world worth exploring and celebrating.—
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Beyond immigration, Miller specializes in turning the president’s whims and rantings into government policy.—
Noun
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The medical ordeals are traumatic and disgusting, but fascinating and full of the quirks of modern life.—
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Though some of its '90s quirks may now feel a little passé, the WB fantasy show still stands as a feminist touchstone, breaking away from the 1992 film's damsel-in-distress trope to deliver a complex, empowered hero.—
Noun
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Our legal and historical notions of agency have long depended on physical embodiment—the sanctity of a single, identifiable body.—
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But a more recent line of research has pushed back against these notions, using statistical analysis to suggest that the apparent variations in response are just the result of measurement error and day-to-day biological variability.—
Verb
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Dry all surfaces completely and replace knobs, drip pans, and coils back on the stove.—
Noun
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As such, its defining characteristics are mostly tactile rather than visual.—
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But there are other factors that needled their way into the evolutionary development of dormancy characteristics.—
Noun
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And all these considerations are preceded by the unpredictable, impossible-to-model vagaries of smoke itself.—
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The vagaries of the administration’s plans stood out in contrast with the precision of Maduro’s capture.—
Cite this Entry
“Kinks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kinks. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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