as in adjacent
having a border in common
flanking farms that share the same water source
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in envelopment
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
as in adjoining
to be adjacent to
the guards flank the center on a football team's offensive line
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 flanking
Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 12 Nov. 2025
So at this time our forecast still holds but, as mentioned, with a low level of confidence for a grazing or flanking edge effect from the CME passages.
—Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
Hilton Als, New Yorker, 30 May 2026
The massive stage comprised three ramps extending the length of a football field that were frequently alight in a Candyland of colors and two oversized video screens flanking a metallic structure that looked like an inverted ski jump.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 21 May 2026
Out back, a small sewage-treatment plant converts bodily waste from two flanking portable toilets into purified water, which is piped into a large tank in which yet another unclothed woman, wearing a scuba mouthpiece, floats for four hours at a time.
—Sebastian Smee, The Atlantic, 16 May 2026
The layers of screens here — from every attending seemingly experiencing the concert through the back-facing camera on their phone to the LED projections flanking Eilish at all times — can be as headache-inducing as the reality of any concert.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 7 May 2026
The ocean sky backdrop flanking the main parking lot that can be flooded for a water set.
—Chris Yogerst, HollywoodReporter, 6 May 2026
Attempting to dribble the ball against a backcourt of Williams and Veronica Burton seems unpleasant, at best, and Golden State has a parade of switchable wings flanking the pair.
—Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 4 May 2026
Because many houses have prominent garage doors on the front facade, the lights flanking them need to be large enough to balance them.
—Amy Panos, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 May 2026
Closest to Jupiter will be Io, while flanking the big planet at greater distances are Callisto (on the same side as Io) and Ganymede.
—Joe Rao, Space.com, 22 Apr. 2026
Noun
But Earth appears to have been struck by a far flanking edge of the storm, meaning most of the magnetic cloud likely missed our planet, according to an update from the center.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 12 Nov. 2025
So at this time our forecast still holds but, as mentioned, with a low level of confidence for a grazing or flanking edge effect from the CME passages.
—Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
But what one fixates on here is how the two men flanking the woman stand protectively close to her.
—Hilton Als, New Yorker, 30 May 2026
The massive stage comprised three ramps extending the length of a football field that were frequently alight in a Candyland of colors and two oversized video screens flanking a metallic structure that looked like an inverted ski jump.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 21 May 2026
Out back, a small sewage-treatment plant converts bodily waste from two flanking portable toilets into purified water, which is piped into a large tank in which yet another unclothed woman, wearing a scuba mouthpiece, floats for four hours at a time.
—Sebastian Smee, The Atlantic, 16 May 2026
The layers of screens here — from every attending seemingly experiencing the concert through the back-facing camera on their phone to the LED projections flanking Eilish at all times — can be as headache-inducing as the reality of any concert.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 7 May 2026
The ocean sky backdrop flanking the main parking lot that can be flooded for a water set.
—Chris Yogerst, HollywoodReporter, 6 May 2026
Attempting to dribble the ball against a backcourt of Williams and Veronica Burton seems unpleasant, at best, and Golden State has a parade of switchable wings flanking the pair.
—Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 4 May 2026
Because many houses have prominent garage doors on the front facade, the lights flanking them need to be large enough to balance them.
—Amy Panos, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 May 2026
Closest to Jupiter will be Io, while flanking the big planet at greater distances are Callisto (on the same side as Io) and Ganymede.
—Joe Rao, Space.com, 22 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flanking
Adjective
-
The shots induce the ovaries to ripen multiple follicles, the sacs that contain eggs, so that a surgeon can go in with a tiny needle, and drain the fluid in those follicles, which is then run into an adjacent embryology lab to search for the eggs.—
Lesley Stahl,
CBS News,
31 May 2026
-
Originally launched as a traditional Pay-in-4 provider, Sezzle has expanded into adjacent financial products, including subscription offerings, credit-reporting integrations, and flexible installment structures such as Pay-in-5.—
Sasirekha Subramanian,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
Noun
-
Recent acoustical changes to the ever-challenging Houston hall have even yielded more sonic presence, warmth and envelopment.—
Scott Cantrell,
Dallas Morning News,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Born in Knoxville, Tennessee, Henson moved to metro Atlanta as a toddler and grew up in Paulding County, with strong ties to adjoining Douglas County.—
Nancy Badertscher,
AJC.com,
7 May 2026
-
In addition to adjoining Oak Forest, the property is also close to Midlothian, Markham, Tinley Park and Country Club Hills.—
Evy Lewis,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The mouse recognizes the call as coming from a mouse in a neighboring nest bush, just as the scientists broadcasting it had intended.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN Money,
3 June 2026
-
For a peaceful escape, stroll through Lumphini Park, 10 minutes south, or play a round of golf at the neighboring Royal Bangkok Sports Club.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
In War and Peace, Tolstoy’s concept—among a million other things—was to show how the young people who lived through the Napoleonic invasion went on to lead Russia’s first democratic uprising, the Decembrist Revolt of 1825.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 June 2026
-
The war in Ukraine has ground on for more than four years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
Yet Mayo made history just the same, joining Tori Penso and Kathryn Nesbitt as the first American officials to work a World Cup final as a trio.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
31 May 2026
-
The newly public stocks will pop on admission and then drop after joining the index.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
31 May 2026
Noun
-
There’ve been at least two other New York City sewer incursions since Jakupovic’s encounter, both in Brooklyn last week.—
David K. Li,
NBC news,
2 June 2026
-
Israel has increased strikes and incursions deeper into Lebanon, while Hezbollah is targeting the Israeli military deployed in southern Lebanon and the civilian population in northern Israel.—
Asher Kaufman,
The Conversation,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
The backstory Lizard Island was declared a National Park in 1937, the surrounding waters were recognised as a National Marine Park in 1974, and the Great Barrier Reef was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1981.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
While questions continue to swirl regarding the possibility of biological lifeforms being in the possession of the federal government, Heckenlively is offering a stark warning surrounding the reality of aliens and humans coming into contact with each other.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
25 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flanking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flanking. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
