as in frenzy
a state of wildly excited activity or emotion
there was a major flap when area residents found out that the President would be visiting
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to flutter
to move or cause to move with a striking motion
the stirring sight of a huge flock of geese flapping their wings
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of flap
Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2026
Carr pointed to the fact that Talarico’s campaign got a burst of attention from the Colbert flap, which translated to more than $2 million in donations to his campaign.
—William Earl, Variety, 19 Feb. 2026
Lars Brandle, Billboard, 11 Feb. 2026
The accompanying illustration shows a terrified boy running from a sky full of books flapping their pages like Hitchcockian birds.
—Richard Sandomir, New York Times, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flap
Noun
By the time Lewis Hamilton returned to the track for the afternoon, Ferrari had reverted to a more conventional rear wing, with the flap moving up as normal instead of swinging around.
—Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2026
Carr pointed to the fact that Talarico’s campaign got a burst of attention from the Colbert flap, which translated to more than $2 million in donations to his campaign.
—William Earl, Variety, 19 Feb. 2026
Verb
Longtime collaborator Alex Lockett returns to direct the clip, an upstairs/downstairs concept which follows Antonoff on struggle street, stumbling into randoms and flapping about in the rain.
—Lars Brandle, Billboard, 11 Feb. 2026
The accompanying illustration shows a terrified boy running from a sky full of books flapping their pages like Hitchcockian birds.
—Richard Sandomir, New York Times, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flap
Noun
-
The move is characteristic frenzy building from Fred, whose show Friday night will be the final performance of his USB002 tour that began last fall.—
Katie Bain,
Billboard,
27 Feb. 2026
-
But the latest one, The Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special, already has fans in a frenzy.—
Katie Decker-Jacoby,
StyleCaster,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Fringed palm fronds flutter in the breeze.—
Jason Sheeler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Pugh’s dress wholly evoked dark glamour, with a high neckline, fluttering short sleeves and a hint of contrasting fabric throughout the design of the dress.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
All-American sophomore Sarah Strong came into the second quarter on a rampage, putting up 10 unanswered points by herself in less than three minutes after ending the first with just two.—
Emily Adams,
Hartford Courant,
27 Feb. 2026
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The attack was Canada’s deadliest rampage since 2020, when a gunman in Nova Scotia killed 13 people and set fires that left another nine dead.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flap. Accessed 6 Mar. 2026.
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