flanks 1 of 2

plural of flank
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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

flanks

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of flank

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 flanks
Noun
Unfortunately, heading into this year’s World Cup, both our stars on the flanks were injured. Patrick Sung Cuadrado, CNN Money, 14 July 2026 Christina Bluhme was high on the flanks of Britain's tallest mountain with her dogs and one of the hounds was a lot higher — and not in a good way. ABC News, 13 July 2026 The rabbits, however, divided their forces and swarmed both flanks of the coach (a move Napoleon surely could have appreciated). Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 July 2026 Teams are increasingly looking to the flanks to move the ball forward. Mark Carey, New York Times, 28 June 2026 The pathologist documented extensive bruising and hemorrhage involving Joanna’s abdomen, flanks, back, buttocks, thighs and lower extremities, according to the affidavit. Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 June 2026 His quick snap shot from the bumper became a specialty and made the B’s power play a monster, especially when Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak were on his flanks. Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 23 June 2026 And to the south, Mount Hood towers, an active stratovolcano with hiking, biking, and skiing on its flanks. Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 20 June 2026
Verb
The park flanks a tiny stretch of Table Rock Lake, a serpentine reservoir with more than 745 miles of shoreline. Julia Sayers Gokhale, Midwest Living, 17 Apr. 2026 This short out-and-back route is the perfect recovery run, with relatively flat terrain that flanks the river. Kristine Thomason, Outside, 9 Mar. 2026 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
  • Trump under pressure The future of the conflict remains unclear – for both sides.
    Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 9 July 2026
  • Maps show the homes are miles apart, on opposite sides of the city.
    Mark Price July 8, Charlotte Observer, 8 July 2026
Verb
  • Flossmoor’s South Commuter Lot, which adjoins the village’s Metra station just steps from downtown, may be reimagined as a public park and community gathering space with the help of an Illinois Department of Natural Resources grant.
    Evy Lewis, Chicago Tribune, 25 June 2026
  • An elevated dining area adjoins a marble and wood kitchen, which features custom rift-oak cabinetry, top-tier stainless-steel appliances, and an oversized island with an integrated breakfast bar.
    Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 8 June 2026
Verb
  • Set in post-Civil War America, former Confederate soldier Cullen Bohannon (Anson Mount) joins the lawless traveling town ‘Hell on Wheels,’ which follows the construction of the first-ever transcontinental railroad.
    Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 5 July 2026
  • The new Explorer joins the F-150, Super Duty, Expedition and Maverick, offering Tremor additions.
    James Raia, Mercury News, 5 July 2026
Verb
  • The French brand spent two years scouting its Shanghai home, which currently neighbors a Louis Vuitton pop-up.
    Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
Verb
  • That gap between an anti-fraud rule and one that touches every American’s ability to communicate privately is forcing privacy experts to weigh in on the proposal’s implications.
    Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 14 July 2026
  • Elsewhere, collections at Khaite, Dries Van Noten, and Loro Piana nodded to the golden age of the 1920s, incorporating elegant Art Deco touches throughout.
    Cortne Bonilla, Vogue, 13 July 2026
Verb
  • Mission Plaza surrounds Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, one of California’s Spanish missions.
    Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026
  • Whether Spatial surrounds its reggae-toasting host with piles of drums, disorienting electronic beats, or locomotive rock music, Scratch abides as crooner, barker, mystic, meditation coach — whatever the moment requires.
    Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 8 July 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Flanks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flanks. Accessed 15 Jul. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on flanks

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!