Choose the Right Synonym for flagrant

flagrant, glaring, gross, rank mean conspicuously bad or objectionable. flagrant applies usually to offenses or errors so bad that they can neither escape notice nor be condoned. flagrant abuse of the office of president glaring implies painful or damaging obtrusiveness of something that is conspicuously wrong, faulty, or improper. glaring errors gross implies the exceeding of reasonable or excusable limits. gross carelessness rank applies to what is openly and extremely objectionable and utterly condemned. rank heresy

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In Latin, flagrare means "to burn," and flagrans means "burning" or "fiery hot" (both literally and figuratively). When it was first used in the 16th century, flagrant had the same meaning as flagrans, but by the 18th century it had acquired its current meaning of "conspicuously bad." Some usage commentators warn against using flagrant and blatant interchangeably. While both words denote conspicuousness, they are not exact synonyms. Blatant is usually used of some person, action, or thing that attracts disapproving attention (e.g., "a blatant grammatical error"). Flagrant is used similarly, but usually carries a heavier weight of violated morality (e.g., "flagrant abuse of public office").

Examples of flagrant in a Sentence

flagrant abuse of the law her flagrant disregard for other people's rights

Recent Examples on the Web That faith has been grievously wounded by the flagrant violation of the court's norms. — Barbara A. Perry, CNN, 12 May 2022 It’s all too seamlessly integrated by the movie to be a buzzkill, exactly, but in a movie of this style, the spies’ romantic lives are not so flagrant as to feel like a total conflict of interest. — K. Austin Collins, Rolling Stone, 11 Apr. 2022 Brooks was hit with a flagrant 2 foul and was immediately ejected. — oregonlive, 4 May 2022 After a lengthy review, referees assessed Green a flagrant 2 and ejected him from the game. — Connor Letourneau, San Francisco Chronicle, 2 May 2022 Paul was assessed a flagrant 1 foul for kicking Alvarado in the groin on a jump shot in Game 5. — Kent Somers, The Arizona Republic, 28 Apr. 2022 Allen was assessed a flagrant 2 foul and ejected for the contact in the third quarter Friday night. — Jim Owczarski, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 23 Jan. 2022 James was assessed a flagrant 2 foul and ejected from the game. — Tim Bielik, cleveland, 22 Nov. 2021 Thursday night he was assessed a flagrant foul for driving his forearm into a Fresno State player’s throat. — Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Mar. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'flagrant.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.