as in flutters
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
Relevance
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 flaps
In the canonical metaphorical example, a butterfly flaps its wings in Brazil, and the cascading sequence of atmospheric perturbations leads to a tornado in Texas.
—
Dan Garisto, Scientific American, 22 Oct. 2025
That goes for Jimmy Kimmel and for anybody who flaps their gums for a living.
—Jesse Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Sep. 2025
To clean your garbage disposal, Lane suggests starting by cleaning the rubber flaps by using dish soap and a brush or an old toothbrush to scrub the rubber flaps that line the disposal.
—Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 2 Sep. 2025
Tamsin flaps her hand to fan herself.
—Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2025
Dan Garisto, Scientific American, 22 Oct. 2025
That goes for Jimmy Kimmel and for anybody who flaps their gums for a living.
—Jesse Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Sep. 2025
To clean your garbage disposal, Lane suggests starting by cleaning the rubber flaps by using dish soap and a brush or an old toothbrush to scrub the rubber flaps that line the disposal.
—Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 2 Sep. 2025
Tamsin flaps her hand to fan herself.
—Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flaps
flutters
Verb
-
Cuba's President Miguel Diaz-Canel (center) flutters a Venezuelan and Cuban national flags in support of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro in Havana.—
Kiki Intarasuwan,
CBS News,
3 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flaps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flaps. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share