as in sides
a place, space, or direction away from or beyond a central point or line
painted the name of the ship along its flank
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in adjoins
to be adjacent to
the guards flank the center on a football team's offensive line
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of flanks
Jack Bantock, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Everest’s Helicopter Rescue Pilots Daring aviators plucked stricken climbers from the flanks of Mount Everest throughout the 2025 season, saving many from certain death.
—The Editors, Outside, 15 Dec. 2025
Kentucky Camp sits amid the grasslands that cloak the eastern flanks of the Santa Rita Mountains northwest of Sonoita.
—Roger Naylor, AZCentral.com, 12 Dec. 2025
In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, when Mount Mandara became another major refuge, local communities built additional stone walls on the flanks to slow down the approach of the enemy.
—Literary Hub, 5 Dec. 2025
The piebald deer seen in Walter Busby's doorbell camera footage, which the homeowner provided to Storyful, is primarily white, with darker spots on its flanks and ears.
—Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 3 Dec. 2025
Some plastic surgery eventually followed, including a breast augmentation after her first pregnancy, as well as liposuction on her tummy and flanks after her third, the 38-year- old reveals.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 24 Nov. 2025
Kaoru Mitoma and João Pedro have been constant threats on the flanks, while Pascal Groß remains the metronome in midfield, dictating the tempo with calm precision.
—Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2025
Noun
Sunday’s point at Manchester City was valuable for Chelsea and their ability to create chances from the flanks (below) continues to be crucial.
—Jack Bantock, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Everest’s Helicopter Rescue Pilots Daring aviators plucked stricken climbers from the flanks of Mount Everest throughout the 2025 season, saving many from certain death.
—The Editors, Outside, 15 Dec. 2025
Kentucky Camp sits amid the grasslands that cloak the eastern flanks of the Santa Rita Mountains northwest of Sonoita.
—Roger Naylor, AZCentral.com, 12 Dec. 2025
In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, when Mount Mandara became another major refuge, local communities built additional stone walls on the flanks to slow down the approach of the enemy.
—Literary Hub, 5 Dec. 2025
The piebald deer seen in Walter Busby's doorbell camera footage, which the homeowner provided to Storyful, is primarily white, with darker spots on its flanks and ears.
—Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 3 Dec. 2025
Some plastic surgery eventually followed, including a breast augmentation after her first pregnancy, as well as liposuction on her tummy and flanks after her third, the 38-year- old reveals.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 24 Nov. 2025
Kaoru Mitoma and João Pedro have been constant threats on the flanks, while Pascal Groß remains the metronome in midfield, dictating the tempo with calm precision.
—Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
Verb
But Hawley flanks the familiar creature from the movies with a variety of new monsters that get unleashed in the Maginot crash.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flanks
Noun
-
Davie has faced a number of major scandals since being named director general in 2020, including the resignation of the BBC’s top new anchor Huw Edwards and accusations of bias from both sides over its coverage of the war in Gaza.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
9 Nov. 2025
-
In breaking with the contentious dealings between the league and the NFL Players Association, Tagliabue and Upshaw kept negotiations respectful and centered on what would benefit both sides.—
NPR,
NPR,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The new building Musk posted about is in nearby Southaven, Mississippi, and adjoins the Colossus 2 facility, the Information reported earlier Tuesday, citing property records and a person familiar with the project.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
31 Dec. 2025
-
Here, a marble island anchors the cooking space, which adjoins a more casual dining area and the family room.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
13 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Another violent image now joins the grim archive that has made Minnesota an unwilling stage for national trauma for years running.—
Phil Morris The Minnesota Star Tribune,
Arkansas Online,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Mina, who spent eight seasons renovating Indianapolis homes on the beloved series Good Bones, joins the design competition for its latest installment, which features four duos working to transform identical Las Vegas properties.—
Erin Clements,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Everything Martha Stewart touches ultimately ends up with great critical acclaim, and this serum will not be an exception.—
Tamim Alnuweiri,
InStyle,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Running backs with 300-plus touches the previous season don’t generally repeat that volume the following season.—
Michael Salfino,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Yet, their followings are distinct from the quasi-religious fervor thar surrounds Khan.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Last year, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame chairman John Sykes cracked open the door to dispel a bit of mystique that surrounds his nominating committee.—
Devon Ivie,
Vulture,
9 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Flanks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flanks. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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