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Definition of flashnext
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as in miracle
something extraordinary or surprising the new goalie for our hockey team was apparently quite a flash in his hometown

Synonyms & Similar Words

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flash

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verb

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as in to twinkle
to shine with light at regular intervals the disco lights flashed, and the revelers danced

Synonyms & Similar Words

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flash

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adjective

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb flash contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of flash are gleam, glimmer, glint, glisten, glitter, shimmer, and sparkle. While all these words mean "to send forth light," flash implies a sudden outburst of bright light.

lightning flashed

When is it sensible to use gleam instead of flash?

Although the words gleam and flash have much in common, gleam suggests a steady light seen through an obscuring medium or against a dark background.

lights gleamed in the valley

When could glimmer be used to replace flash?

The words glimmer and flash are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, glimmer suggests a faint or wavering gleam.

a distant glimmering light

Where would glint be a reasonable alternative to flash?

While in some cases nearly identical to flash, glint implies a cold glancing light.

glinting steel

When would glisten be a good substitute for flash?

While the synonyms glisten and flash are close in meaning, glisten applies to the soft sparkle from a wet or oily surface.

glistening wet sidewalk

In what contexts can glitter take the place of flash?

The synonyms glitter and flash are sometimes interchangeable, but glitter connotes a brilliant sparkling or gleaming.

glittering diamonds

When can shimmer be used instead of flash?

The words shimmer and flash can be used in similar contexts, but shimmer means shining with a wavering light.

a shimmering satin dress

When might sparkle be a better fit than flash?

The meanings of sparkle and flash largely overlap; however, sparkle suggests innumerable moving points of bright light.

the sparkling waters

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 flash
Noun
The National Hurricane Center expects the storm to bring heavy rainfall and life-threatening flash flooding, possibly as far east as the Florida Panhandle. David Schutz, Sun Sentinel, 17 June 2026 This could produce life-threatening flash flooding. Lissette Gonzalez, CBS News, 17 June 2026
Verb
The second round of storms passing through later on Wednesday could bring tornadoes, large hail, flash flooding and damaging winds, meteorologists say. John Tufts, IndyStar, 18 June 2026 With head and tail up, Copper flashed past me, and my mount Shorty gave a surprised grunt, slid back on his haunches, and almost upset me. Dolores Brown, Outdoor Life, 17 June 2026
Adjective
Micron, along with flash-storage companies Western Digital and Seagate Technology, were some of the best-performing stocks in the S&P 500 last year. The Week Us, TheWeek, 3 Mar. 2026 Tom Lee of Fundstrat has been frequently citing the invention of flash-frozen food in the early 1900s as fundamentally disrupting the farming sector, which took farming as a share of jobs from 30% to 40% down to just 2% to 5%, but the economy reallocated value elsewhere. Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 23 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for flash
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flash
Noun
  • Even before the latest flurry of mixed signals, the industry had doubts.
    Jason Ma, Fortune, 20 June 2026
  • The Angels recalled infielder Christian Moore from Triple-A Salt Lake among a flurry of moves.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026
Noun
  • Two setups from Pulisic, playmaking in bursts on the left wing, beating three Paraguay defenders during one sprint.
    Filip Bondy, New York Daily News, 13 June 2026
  • The actress said that the show was inspired by her love of discussing personal topics in short bursts.
    Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 13 June 2026
Noun
  • Vegas pulled Carter Hart with about three minutes to go, officially entering desperation mode, but nothing worked, and Nikolaj Ehlers scored an empty-netter to start the party.
    Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 15 June 2026
  • The administration filed a last-minute request to stay the judge's injunction pending their appeal, but it was ultimately rejected.
    Emma Nicholson, CBS News, 15 June 2026
Noun
  • In the wake of OG’s miracle shot, what would follow was so obvious.
    David Remnick, New Yorker, 14 June 2026
  • At the clinic, community health workers confirmed her suspicion and gave her a week's supply of a near-miracle food - Plumpy'Nut, the brand name of what's called a ready-to-use therapeutic food, or RUTF.
    Jonathan Lambert, NPR, 13 June 2026
Noun
  • The visuals of fighters warming up inside the White House and sauntering down the Truman balcony, many wrapped in the American flag, was an unusual spectacle indeed.
    Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 15 June 2026
  • Suffice it to say that the spectacle, while not exactly comparable to watching paint dry, is not always scintillating.
    Stephen Farber, HollywoodReporter, 15 June 2026
Verb
  • At the Obama public library, I was greeted by gleaming wood shelves and stacks of colorful tomes, and shimmering light streaming through its floor-to-ceiling windows.
    Laura Washington, Chicago Tribune, 14 June 2026
  • Surrounded by custom paintwork and gleaming chrome, Ugaz said the opportunity to share his passion and craftsmanship with the broader San Francisco community was especially meaningful given the stereotypes lowrider enthusiasts have faced over the years.
    Loureen Ayyoub, CBS News, 13 June 2026
Verb
  • Still, Banks needs to display a level of consistency that has been lacking to wrestle the starting job away during camp.
    Dan Duggan, New York Times, 16 June 2026
  • However, writing of any kind, with any message, is prohibited per Major League Baseball’s Uniform Regulations which provides in part that, ‘(a) Player may not write, attach, affix, embroider or otherwise display nicknames or messages on apparel or playing equipment…’.
    ABC News, ABC News, 16 June 2026
Verb
  • Osborn says to start right around sunset, so guests arrive during the golden hour and can naturally settle in as the light fades and the stars begin to twinkle.
    Wendy Rose Gould, Martha Stewart, 14 June 2026
  • With their tiny, twinkling lights, fireflies are icons of a Georgia summer night.
    Charles Seabrook, AJC.com, 6 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Flash.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flash. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.

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