1
as in emblem
a device, design, or figure used as an identifying mark
that ensign of tutorial authority, the hickory stick
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2
as in flag
a piece of cloth with a special design that is used as an emblem or for signaling
fittingly, the organization promoting the welfare of marine life features a dolphin on its ensign
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ensign
Worse still, scans show portions of Gamble’s brain have died, which sends the ensign into a panic.
—
Keith Phipps, Vulture, 7 Aug. 2025
My dad was an ensign on the USS Pensacola for three years, three months and three days in the South Pacific.
—Jim Martin, Denver Post, 26 May 2025
Othello star Jake Gyllenhaal’s backstage home-away-from-home in Broadway’s Barrymore theater is an extension of the Shakespearean world he’s been steeped in while developing his version of Iago, the duplicitous ensign to the titular Venetian army general played by Denzel Washington.
—Charlotte Collins, Architectural Digest, 24 Mar. 2025
Usually the obscure one is Othello’s ensign, Iago.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ensign
Keith Phipps, Vulture, 7 Aug. 2025
My dad was an ensign on the USS Pensacola for three years, three months and three days in the South Pacific.
—Jim Martin, Denver Post, 26 May 2025
Othello star Jake Gyllenhaal’s backstage home-away-from-home in Broadway’s Barrymore theater is an extension of the Shakespearean world he’s been steeped in while developing his version of Iago, the duplicitous ensign to the titular Venetian army general played by Denzel Washington.
—Charlotte Collins, Architectural Digest, 24 Mar. 2025
Usually the obscure one is Othello’s ensign, Iago.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ensign
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ensign
Noun
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What was once associated with rebellion or niche subcultures has now blossomed into a lifestyle emblem that’s stylish, health-conscious, and culturally significant.—
Amplified Content Studio,
Mercury News,
7 Jan. 2026
-
He is elevated, isolated, burdened, deified--positioned as an emblem.—
Philip Martin,
Washington Post,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
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More than 2,000 navy and aircraft carrier construction personnel looked on from stands along the dock as Xi joined an honor guard in a flag ceremony for the commissioning, which took place Wednesday afternoon.—
Brad Lendon,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
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In fact, someone from the Ali Grace team checks in directly with each customer to confirm details and flag anything that doesn’t look quite right.—
Andre Claudio,
Sourcing Journal,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The move all but guaranteed more travel chaos heading into the weekend, a potent symbol of the shutdown’s cascading effects.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
6 Nov. 2025
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Others wore keffiyehs, a symbol of Palestinian resistance, nodding to an issue that inspired many of Mamdani’s supporters and was in turn weaponized by his critics.—
Alex J. Rouhandeh,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Participants filled the streets in the area — some holding candles or anti-ICE banners, others tying flowers to nearby street poles.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
8 Jan. 2026
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To generate the report, Dunnhumby analyzed customer and financial data for the 81 largest supermarket, discount, superstore, club and online banners in the nation, including perceptions of retailers' value.—
Chad Murphy,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
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LogoPowered byScale logo At least 114 people have died and 127 remain missing in central Philippines after a typhoon caused destruction and widespread flooding, which local officials suggest could have been prevented if not for persistent graft in flood-control projects.—
Chad de Guzman,
Time,
6 Nov. 2025
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This gray panel matches the collar and Wings logo, and the rest of the upper is rendered in white and off-white.—
Ian Servantes,
Footwear News,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ensign.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ensign. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.
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