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
Anna Zacharias, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Jan. 2026
Arsenal have followed the same pattern of focusing their final-third entries down the wings (34 and 26 per cent for their right and left flanks respectively), with a slight uptick in the central channel compared to 2024-25.
—Ahmed Walid, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026
Both Reynoso and Valdez operate within the same progressive flanks of the Democratic Party, and they are aligned on key issues like support for Palestine and strong support for labor rights, although Valdez generally leans further left.
—Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 9 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
Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2025
Noun
At the wadi’s head lies a small, stubborn village, clinging to the canyon floor beneath the immense flanks of Jebel Shams.
—Anna Zacharias, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Jan. 2026
Arsenal have followed the same pattern of focusing their final-third entries down the wings (34 and 26 per cent for their right and left flanks respectively), with a slight uptick in the central channel compared to 2024-25.
—Ahmed Walid, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026
Both Reynoso and Valdez operate within the same progressive flanks of the Democratic Party, and they are aligned on key issues like support for Palestine and strong support for labor rights, although Valdez generally leans further left.
—Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 9 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
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
-
Even if the two sides strike a deal, negotiations down the road on a final agreement on the Homeland Security bill are likely to be difficult.—
DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE STAFF FROM WIRE REPORTS,
Arkansas Online,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Negotiations between the two sides are poised to resume on Sunday amid doubts about Moscow’s commitment to a settlement.—
Aamer Madhani,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Jan. 2026
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
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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
-
Wendy Battleson joins Bonhams as SVP, head of business development, US, joining from Bank of America Private Bank.—
Emma Hinchliffe,
Fortune,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Gerstner joins billionaire hedge fund manager Ray Dalio of Bridgewater Associates and Michael Dell, founder and CEO of Dell Technologies, and his wife, Susan, who previously announced pledges.—
Jessica Dickler,Kate Dore, CFP®, EA,
CNBC,
28 Jan. 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
-
The accord, which touches 2 billion people, came after nearly two decades of negotiations.—
Stan Choe,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The accord, which touches 2 billion people, followed nearly two decades of negotiations.—
Stan Choe,
Fortune,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Most patients show changes in the fluid that surrounds the brain, commonly seen in other viral brain infections.—
Michal Ruprecht,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
-
On the medal, the Virgil inscription surrounds a young man sitting under a laurel tree, listening to the Muse, and writing down her song.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flanks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flanks. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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