flash 1 of 3

1
2
3
4
5

flash

2 of 3

verb

1
2
3
as in to twinkle
to shine with light at regular intervals the disco lights flashed, and the revelers danced

Synonyms & Similar Words

4

flash

3 of 3

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 video captured bright flashes from the muzzles of the guns as the suspects fired. Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 1 Oct. 2025 Blunt looked stunning in a red Elisabetta Franchi floor-length dress that featured thousands of beads and sequins, allowing each flash of the camera to showcase its intricate details. Starr Bowenbank, PEOPLE, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
Dach has had a strong preseason, showing off his physicality in his first two games (something the Blackhawks don’t have a lot of in their lineup) and flashing some skill with a goal Tuesday against the Detroit Red Wings. Scott Powers, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025 The player bet $3, hit spin and watched as the symbols flashed across the screen until a jackpot message appeared. Helena Wegner, Sacbee.com, 2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Don’t let the lack of flash fool you — this guy is the real deal. Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2025 The German figures come a day before the scheduled release of flash inflation data for the euro area, which will be closely watched by investors for guidance on the odds of another interest rate cut from the European Central Bank. Sophie Kiderlin, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2024 See All Example Sentences for flash
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flash
Noun
  • After the Dolphins’ early flurry — 14 of their points came off Young turnovers — the Panthers kept Miami (1-4) off the scoreboard for five consecutive series.
    Joseph Person, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025
  • The American serial killer, whose crimes would go on to inspire a flurry of horror films (including Psycho and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre), was also known as the Butcher of Plainfield.
    Yasmeen Hamadeh, PEOPLE, 5 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Its approach to comedy is ripped straight from the world of musical cast parties and improv shows, with every performer doing their best to turn every line into a GIF-able burst of wholesome self-deprecation.
    Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 3 Oct. 2025
  • This simple yet powerful step turned noisy, unreliable photon signals into clean bursts of single photons — a breakthrough for future quantum technologies.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 3 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • On festival days, shuttles will begin service approximately 60 minutes prior to the gate opening time.
    Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 29 Sep. 2025
  • In the final minute of regulation, a huge catch and run gave Dallas a 28-yard touchdown and the lead with 43 seconds remaining.
    Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • One life saved by heroic medical care is a miracle.
    Dr. Tom Frieden, Time, 30 Sep. 2025
  • With Liverpool returning to the Turkish city for their Champions League game against Galatasaray, this is the story of a football miracle, told to James Pearce and Simon Hughes by the people who were on the pitch, in the dugout and in the stands.
    James Pearce, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The entire concert is a spectacle — all black and red, smoke and snakes.
    Janey Tracey, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Oct. 2025
  • In addition to its astrological influence — reaching its peak in the sign of Aries — October’s supermoon will also be a mystical spectacle.
    Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 2 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Elanco's gleaming headquarters stands four stories tall, with floor-to-ceiling blue windows on every side and several balconies that overlook the 75-acre campus and provide an unobstructed view of the downtown skyline.
    Alysa Guffey, IndyStar, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Brecher's image captured spectacular detail in the sweeping spiral arms of the 260,000 light-year-wide galaxy gleaming with the intense light of star formation.
    Anthony Wood, Space.com, 28 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Pedestrians walk past a Nike store featuring a modern design and mannequins displaying winter apparel on December 5, 2024, in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China.
    Gabrielle Fonrouge, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2025
  • The mysterious laser weapon was displayed at China’s Victory Day parade in Beijing in September, and since then, speculations have been rife over its capabilities.
    Abhishek Bhardwaj, Interesting Engineering, 30 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Formula One is headed to the Lion City’s Marina Bay Street Circuit to compete under the twinkling stars and lights for the Singapore Grand Prix.
    Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
  • The twinkling synth lines and thumping four-on-the-floor pattern create a groove as irresistible as the woman Iwar yearns for.
    Heran Mamo, Billboard, 30 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Flash.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flash. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on flash

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!