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
Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 3 Apr. 2026
Any deal almost certainly needs to involve a compromise as lawmakers on the left and right flanks revolt.
—ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
Any deal will almost certainly need to involve a compromise as lawmakers on the left and right flanks revolt.
—Lisa Mascaro, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
Jayden Bogle and James Justin even dared to offer an attacking threat down the flanks in the 5-3-1 shape Farke adopted.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026
Climbing season on Mount Shasta typically starts in May, after snowpack on the lower flanks has melted.
—Frederick Dreier, Outside, 10 Mar. 2026
On its website, a Miami-area med spa offers patients lipodissolver injected into their chin, abdomen, thighs, upper arms, and flanks — a procedure the promotional offer says takes only 20 to 30 minutes.
—Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2026
Or removing the implants altogether, sometimes adding a breast lift and some fat grafting from the stomach, thighs, or flanks to create a subtly natural shape.
—Marisa Meltzer, Vanity Fair, 23 Feb. 2026
The beating death of ultraconservative activist Quentin Deranque in the French city of Lyon last week has pushed both the country’s far right and left flanks toward bellicosity, as both ends of the political spectrum blame the other for his death and the threat of further violence.
—Rafi Schwartz, TheWeek, 20 Feb. 2026
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
Noun
Up front, this team has serious depth, with Igor Chernyshov and Will Smith rapidly morphing into elite flanks for Celebrini.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 3 Apr. 2026
Any deal almost certainly needs to involve a compromise as lawmakers on the left and right flanks revolt.
—ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
Any deal will almost certainly need to involve a compromise as lawmakers on the left and right flanks revolt.
—Lisa Mascaro, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
Jayden Bogle and James Justin even dared to offer an attacking threat down the flanks in the 5-3-1 shape Farke adopted.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026
Climbing season on Mount Shasta typically starts in May, after snowpack on the lower flanks has melted.
—Frederick Dreier, Outside, 10 Mar. 2026
On its website, a Miami-area med spa offers patients lipodissolver injected into their chin, abdomen, thighs, upper arms, and flanks — a procedure the promotional offer says takes only 20 to 30 minutes.
—Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2026
Or removing the implants altogether, sometimes adding a breast lift and some fat grafting from the stomach, thighs, or flanks to create a subtly natural shape.
—Marisa Meltzer, Vanity Fair, 23 Feb. 2026
The beating death of ultraconservative activist Quentin Deranque in the French city of Lyon last week has pushed both the country’s far right and left flanks toward bellicosity, as both ends of the political spectrum blame the other for his death and the threat of further violence.
—Rafi Schwartz, TheWeek, 20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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
-
The deal was beneficial for both sides.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The two sides talked on March 17 and March 24 but have not been able to reach a breakthrough.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In the bathroom that adjoins the home gym, a soft-pink marble steals the show.—
Kathryn O’Shea-Evans,
Robb Report,
29 Mar. 2026
-
The dining room adjoins the kitchen in classic Victorian style, creating a fluid, convivial space.—
Annabelle Dufraigne,
Architectural Digest,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Nine Inch Noize joins a lineup that also counts headliners Sabrina Carpenter, Karol G and Justin Bieber.—
Steven J. Horowitz,
Variety,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Employers are now also obliged to provide maternity, paternity and paid sick leave from the moment an employee joins.—
Ian King,
CNBC,
8 Apr. 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
-
Becky Shaw touches something tender and doesn't stop there.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Apr. 2026
-
The restaurant doesn’t represent a single Asian cuisine but touches many cultures, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese and Indonesian among them.—
Connie Ogle,
Miami Herald,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Much lore surrounds Nanda Devi.—
Elizabeth Cantrell,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Despite the sharp moves, uncertainty surrounds the ceasefire, in particular about a quick resumption of transits through the strait, through which about 20% of the world’s oil supply normally passes.—
Ramishah Maruf,
CNN Money,
7 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flanks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flanks. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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