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
The Grand Ditch, center, is seen along the flanks of the Never Summer Range in western Rocky Mountain National Park. Logan Smith, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026 Adeyemi, a versatile forward costing €22 million, offers depth on both flanks. Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026 Geovany Quenda has also arrived to learn and compete for minutes on both flanks. Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026 During the battle Mughal troops allowed portions of Hemu’s force to advance while some cavalrymen moved against the opposition’s flanks. Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 17 Aug. 2026 The carbon-fiber Blackbird predominantly references its aeronautical namesake through its exterior styling, most notably the distinctive chine line that runs along the flanks of the car. Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 3 Aug. 2026 Bergé—still blustery and energetic at sixty-eight—flanks Saint Laurent protectively as the two leave their hotel for the ceremony, where the designer is set to receive a lifetime-achievement award. Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2026 Quintero, the complaint said, did a fat transfer to the buttocks, chest, trapezius and biceps for Patient 1 after removing 3,000 cubic centimeters of supernatant fat from the chest, abdomen, flanks, and back. David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 29 July 2026 Hamstring tears to Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams in their domestic club seasons removed that quick attacking threat from the flanks and led to a one of the biggest shocks of the tournament, the Cape Verde draw. Patrick Sung Cuadrado, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
Verb
After a long winter, the vibrant green of new foliage flanks the road and, in parts, creates a canopy in the summer. Stacy Conde, Midwest Living, 9 July 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
  • As the war with Iran continues and both sides seek to control the strait, through which 25% of the world's oil trade transited before the war began in February, oil prices have reached their highest level since July.
    August 20, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • That tariff rate was later reduced to 15% when the two sides agreed on a trade deal, but uncertainty remains about the stability of that agreement and how imports of certain European goods, such as steel, will be taxed by Washington.
    Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 19 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Nearby, a dining area topped with a Noguchi light fixture adjoins a sleek matte black and brass-accented kitchen, which has an expansive island that seats five, integrated appliances, and a walk-in pantry.
    Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Grab Afternoon Tea Stop into Heritage Bakery & Cafe, a cozy spot that adjoins Harrisonburg’s welcome center, to delight in whimsical refreshments served on delicate china.
    Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 9 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The Audiodo personalization joins a comprehensive list of other modern features, including Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), Transparency Mode, Multipoint Connectivity, and support for high-resolution audio over USB.
    Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Lamb joins a troublingly long list of NFL stars who have been targets of property crimes in recent years.
    Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Aug. 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
  • According to health officials, exposure to rabies can also happen when a person touches a bat's saliva or brain tissue or wakes up with one in their bedroom.
    Nicholas Lentz, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026
  • However, giving it to someone else can lead to germs being transferred, especially with makeup that touches the lips or eyes.
    Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 22 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Uncertainty, however, surrounds the future of striker Jean-Philippe Mateta.
    Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026
  • In a separate attack, local authorities said two people were killed Saturday afternoon in a Russian ballistic missile strike on the Kyiv region, which surrounds the capital.
    Volodymyr Yurchuk, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Flanks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flanks. Accessed 27 Aug. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster