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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of flanks
Paul Taylor, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
There are far fewer climbers on Mount Everest in the fall than in the spring, but the peak’s higher flanks are often buried under deep snowfall after the summer monsoons.
—Ben Ayers, Outside, 10 Oct. 2025
Flatbush Avenue cuts askew between the unaligned street grids at its flanks (Fort Greene on one side, Boerum Hill on the other), creating a chain of triangular blocks and architectural opportunities.
—Justin Davidson, Curbed, 22 Sep. 2025
That's largely due to its multi-tone foil wrap and Terranger branding but also owes to the grippy BFGoodrich all-terrain tires clung to 17-in black off-road wheels, slim rock sliders underpinning the colorful flanks and Lazer auxiliary lights embedded in the grille.
—New Atlas, 19 Sep. 2025
Pockets of that fine, powdery rock still linger today on the volcano’s flanks and inside the crater.
—Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 17 Sep. 2025
The Rapids have been built for speed on the flanks, and even their strikers — Rafael Navarro and Darren Yapi — have some pace to them.
—Braidon Nourse, Denver Post, 14 Sep. 2025
By striking Ukraine’s flanks and using fiber-optic drones to pressure logistical supply routes, Moscow was eventually able to push Kyiv out after months of intense fighting.
—David Kirichenko, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
While that was neat, ports on the flanks of the laptop are simply more accessible than those on the back, negating the need for helpful icons in the first place.
—Matthew Buzzi, PC Magazine, 3 Sep. 2025
Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2025
Noun
Wood thrived in a side where much of the attacking threat came from down the flanks, through Anthony Elanga and Callum Hudson-Odoi.
—Paul Taylor, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
There are far fewer climbers on Mount Everest in the fall than in the spring, but the peak’s higher flanks are often buried under deep snowfall after the summer monsoons.
—Ben Ayers, Outside, 10 Oct. 2025
Flatbush Avenue cuts askew between the unaligned street grids at its flanks (Fort Greene on one side, Boerum Hill on the other), creating a chain of triangular blocks and architectural opportunities.
—Justin Davidson, Curbed, 22 Sep. 2025
That's largely due to its multi-tone foil wrap and Terranger branding but also owes to the grippy BFGoodrich all-terrain tires clung to 17-in black off-road wheels, slim rock sliders underpinning the colorful flanks and Lazer auxiliary lights embedded in the grille.
—New Atlas, 19 Sep. 2025
Pockets of that fine, powdery rock still linger today on the volcano’s flanks and inside the crater.
—Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 17 Sep. 2025
The Rapids have been built for speed on the flanks, and even their strikers — Rafael Navarro and Darren Yapi — have some pace to them.
—Braidon Nourse, Denver Post, 14 Sep. 2025
By striking Ukraine’s flanks and using fiber-optic drones to pressure logistical supply routes, Moscow was eventually able to push Kyiv out after months of intense fighting.
—David Kirichenko, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
While that was neat, ports on the flanks of the laptop are simply more accessible than those on the back, negating the need for helpful icons in the first place.
—Matthew Buzzi, PC Magazine, 3 Sep. 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
-
Those restrictions came after the US introduced a slew of its own export controls targeting China in late September, despite the two sides seemingly making progress in trade talks over the summer.—
John Liu,
CNN Money,
13 Oct. 2025
-
All four sides of the lid have locking latches that can make the container completely airtight at the press of a button.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The bridge adjoins the War Eagle Mill and carries traffic across War Eagle Creek.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Ritrovata, the laboratory that adjoins the Cineteca.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Superintendent Brenda Cassellius also joins in on the fun.—
Kayla Huynh,
jsonline.com,
10 Oct. 2025
-
But if Jones joins Purdy on the list of inactives come Sunday, San Francisco will certainly find themselves in a tricky situation at the quarterback position for Week 6.—
Reice Shipley,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Shen notes that gonorrhea can also spread to the eyes if a person touches them after making contact with infected areas, leading to redness, pain and discharge.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
10 Oct. 2025
-
The doc briefly touches on the importance to Ozzy of reuniting with Black Sabbath during his final show after he was originally fired from the band in 1979 due to his substance abuse issues.—
Ellise Shafer,
Variety,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The Ring of Fire surrounds much of the Pacific Ocean and is home to numerous oceanic trenches, volcanic arcs, and fault systems.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025
-
Another diagnostic option involves measuring amyloid beta and certain modified forms of tau in the cerebrospinal fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord, but collecting this fluid requires a lumbar puncture, which many people find too invasive.—
Robert Martone,
Scientific American,
10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Flanks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flanks. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.
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