flanked

verb

past tense of flank
as in adjoined
to be adjacent to the guards flank the center on a football team's offensive line

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 flanked Her skill in the post as a passing hub and a scorer is near-unmatched, and she is flanked by two dynamic guards in Julie Allemand (Toronto Tempo) and Julie Vanloo, who are willing creators and attackers. — Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026 It would be topped with a sixty-foot gold statue of Lady Liberty, wearing wings and flanked by gold eagles. — Antonia Hitchens, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2026 Sunday treats us to Chalk It Up regulars and bouncing local rock kingpins the Brodys, flanked by Asesinos, Rose Lyon, Sol Peligro and Leaping Blennies. — Aaron Davis, Sacbee.com, 4 Sep. 2026 Perched above the custom triple clamps are narrow ape-hanger handlebars flanked by a classic square headlight and a handcrafted cowl that accentuates the bike's narrow silhouette. — New Atlas, 2 Sep. 2026 Video shows teams of workers yanking ropes to ferry locals who were stranded on an embankment flanked by a flooded river. — Robert McGreevy, FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 2026 In its default configuration, the handheld’s screen is flanked by analog sticks, a D-pad, and Xbox-style ABXY face buttons, plus two triggers on each shoulder. — Dominic Preston, The Verge, 2 Sep. 2026 Few photographs exist of Princess Margaret’s engagement ring, but it’s confirmed to have a ruby at its center flanked by diamonds. — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 1 Sep. 2026 He’s flanked by Claymore and Fuller as John and Major Ridge, who both infuse a deep reverence for their characters in both of their performances. — Charlotte Observer, 28 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flanked
  1. adjoined
  2. joined
  3. surrounded
  4. touched
Verb
  • Then, another 20-year-old man, Daktari Rose Deacon, of Hyde Park, left a bathroom that adjoined the bedroom, according to police, who searched the bathroom and found another loaded firearm with an extended magazine.
    — Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 20 July 2026
  • Two double bedrooms and a single bedroom are tucked at the end of the main floor, and are adjoined by a large outdoor terrace.
    — Bridget Borgobello July 03, New Atlas, 4 July 2026
Definition of adjoined
Verb
  • With nine homers in a single game, the Cubs joined the 2025 Yankees, who did it twice, in a tie for the second-most homers in a single game.
    — Johnny Flores Jr, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
  • By 2012, Will Beedle — who joined the company in 2006 as menswear director — was promoted to chief creative director, before stepping down in 2021.
    — Joe Bobowicz, Vogue, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of joined
Verb
  • The symbolic funeral pyres were surrounded by offerings to Hindu deities as relatives gathered to perform the final rites.
    — Shristi Kafle, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The novel’s little Scottish village, surrounded by forest, feels claustrophobic, isolated, steeped in dread.
    — The Week US, TheWeek, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of surrounded
Verb
  • Thursday's pull-back comes after the benchmark 10-year Treasury note yield touched a multi-year high during Wednesday's session as inflation and debt concerns continue to weigh on markets.
    — Hugh Leask, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Steinem’s influence touched many points, particularly art, photography, and popular culture.
    — Hikmat Mohammed, ARTnews.com, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of touched

Browse Nearby Words

flank
flanked
flanking
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Flanked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flanked. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
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!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of gist

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All