as in adjacent
having a border in common
flanking farms that share the same water source
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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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
Oren Hartov, Robb Report, 4 Apr. 2026
Along the route, my father would point in disgust at the large Olympic-torch flames dotting the horizon and rising above the acres of palm trees flanking the highway.
—Noo Saro-Wiwa, The Dial, 24 Mar. 2026
For much of the season’s first three months, the 30-year-old Dane spent time flanking Sebastian Aho on the top line or teamed up with second-year forwards Logan Stankoven and Jackson Blake.
—Cory Lavalette, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2026
There’s a ladies’ and a gentlemen’s flanking the stairwell on this upper entry level, each outfitted with a cold plunge, sauna, steam room, and showers inside and out.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Mar. 2026
Nearly Natural Artificial Boxwood Spiral Topiary Tree Potted faux shrubs add height and interest to your porch, and a pair of topiaries flanking the front door or steps welcomes guests in style.
—Melanie Fincher, Southern Living, 26 Feb. 2026
There are no Roomba-like machines flanking the stone, frantically brushing to extend its travel or hold its line.
—IEEE Spectrum, 18 Feb. 2026
Prompting that delay was beachcomber Jacob Bridgeman, who failed to cleanly hit off the shoreline flanking the 18th green en route to bogey.
—Cam Inman, Mercury News, 16 Feb. 2026
If the biggest stars in baseball are Japanese, South Korean or Latin American, think harder about flanking strategies that go around the NFL’s traditional reliance on North Americans.
—Rick Burton, Sportico.com, 11 Feb. 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
The new Calibre 1150 was designed using 3-D modeling such that nearly all functions are easily engaged and adjusted via three pushers fitted within and flanking the crown, while all calendar functions are displayed via dedicated apertures in order to minimize visual clutter.
—Oren Hartov, Robb Report, 4 Apr. 2026
Along the route, my father would point in disgust at the large Olympic-torch flames dotting the horizon and rising above the acres of palm trees flanking the highway.
—Noo Saro-Wiwa, The Dial, 24 Mar. 2026
For much of the season’s first three months, the 30-year-old Dane spent time flanking Sebastian Aho on the top line or teamed up with second-year forwards Logan Stankoven and Jackson Blake.
—Cory Lavalette, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2026
There’s a ladies’ and a gentlemen’s flanking the stairwell on this upper entry level, each outfitted with a cold plunge, sauna, steam room, and showers inside and out.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Mar. 2026
Nearly Natural Artificial Boxwood Spiral Topiary Tree Potted faux shrubs add height and interest to your porch, and a pair of topiaries flanking the front door or steps welcomes guests in style.
—Melanie Fincher, Southern Living, 26 Feb. 2026
There are no Roomba-like machines flanking the stone, frantically brushing to extend its travel or hold its line.
—IEEE Spectrum, 18 Feb. 2026
Prompting that delay was beachcomber Jacob Bridgeman, who failed to cleanly hit off the shoreline flanking the 18th green en route to bogey.
—Cam Inman, Mercury News, 16 Feb. 2026
If the biggest stars in baseball are Japanese, South Korean or Latin American, think harder about flanking strategies that go around the NFL’s traditional reliance on North Americans.
—Rick Burton, Sportico.com, 11 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flanking
Adjective
-
They’re also seen as constellations adjacent to the great hunter Orion.—
Mike Lynch,
Twin Cities,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Around that site adjacent to Crown Center and Union Station, Lucas said, the Royals are expected to separately fund the bulk of a surrounding entertainment district.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
12 Apr. 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
-
Julian lords over not one but two swanky adjoining townhouses stuffed with antiques.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
-
In a Reddit thread discussing adjoining rooms on cruises, one user described constant disruptions from neighboring guests.—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The son jumped from the roof of the home to a neighboring building, where he was rescued by firefighters on a ladder truck, Cruz said.—
Mike Darnay,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
The aid group also helps deportees returned from the neighboring Dominican Republic and the Caribbean, which are adding to the strain.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Lebanon's top political authorities, critical of Hezbollah's decision to fire rockets towards Israel on March 2 in solidarity with Iran, quickly proposed direct talks in a bid to stop the escalation, hoping that Israel would not launch its ground invasion.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Apr. 2026
-
The crisis of American defense production has been slowly worsening since the start of the Russian invasion in Ukraine.—
Garrett M. Graff,
New Yorker,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Grammy- winning artist expressed her excitement for joining the show in a February 2026 interview with Elle.—
Alyssa Davis,
PEOPLE,
13 Apr. 2026
-
In four seasons as South Dakota State’s starter, the former no-star recruit led the Jackrabbits to three FCS national championship games (two wins) and set several school records before joining the Hawkeyes last season.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The staggering human toll in Gaza, ongoing West Bank settlement expansion, another incursion into Lebanon, and a darkening war with Iran eroded support among younger Americans—even as Washington remains Israel’s indispensable security partner.—
Ian Bremmer,
Time,
15 Apr. 2026
-
More than anything, there was just noise, ramped up further as Arsenal started on the front foot, forcing Sporting into early errors and making a couple of promising incursions into the box.—
Jack Lang,
New York Times,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Carr expanded the unit last year to include additional prosecutors and investigators serving Augusta and surrounding counties, part of a broader push to target trafficking networks statewide.—
Zachary Bynum,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Below in the courtyard where the big choppers had been loading, the headlights from the cars and trucks surrounding the parking lot were still on to light the way for the choppers.—
Louis Menand,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flanking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flanking. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
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