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flash

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verb

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as in to twinkle
to shine with light at regular intervals the disco lights flashed, and the revelers danced

Synonyms & Similar Words

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flash

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adjective

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb flash contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of flash are gleam, glimmer, glint, glisten, glitter, shimmer, and sparkle. While all these words mean "to send forth light," flash implies a sudden outburst of bright light.

lightning flashed

When is it sensible to use gleam instead of flash?

Although the words gleam and flash have much in common, gleam suggests a steady light seen through an obscuring medium or against a dark background.

lights gleamed in the valley

When could glimmer be used to replace flash?

The words glimmer and flash are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, glimmer suggests a faint or wavering gleam.

a distant glimmering light

Where would glint be a reasonable alternative to flash?

While in some cases nearly identical to flash, glint implies a cold glancing light.

glinting steel

When would glisten be a good substitute for flash?

While the synonyms glisten and flash are close in meaning, glisten applies to the soft sparkle from a wet or oily surface.

glistening wet sidewalk

In what contexts can glitter take the place of flash?

The synonyms glitter and flash are sometimes interchangeable, but glitter connotes a brilliant sparkling or gleaming.

glittering diamonds

When can shimmer be used instead of flash?

The words shimmer and flash can be used in similar contexts, but shimmer means shining with a wavering light.

a shimmering satin dress

When might sparkle be a better fit than flash?

The meanings of sparkle and flash largely overlap; however, sparkle suggests innumerable moving points of bright light.

the sparkling waters

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 flash
Noun
Thunderstorms continuing through Friday could bring high winds, hail, flash flooding and tornadoes in the Northeast, Accuweather reported. Jane Onyanga-Omara, USA Today, 2 May 2025 The approximately 3,000 fans formed a sea of yellow – the color of the Bodø/Glimt home shirt – punctuated with flashes of Norway’s red-and-blue flag. Ben Church, CNN Money, 2 May 2025
Verb
And downtown areas are moving to digital ones that flash and change. Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 28 Apr. 2025 Behind her, a flashing army of cop cars is closing in. Randall Colburn, EW.com, 28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
Don’t let the lack of flash fool you — this guy is the real deal. Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2025 The German figures come a day before the scheduled release of flash inflation data for the euro area, which will be closely watched by investors for guidance on the odds of another interest rate cut from the European Central Bank. Sophie Kiderlin, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2024 See All Example Sentences for flash
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flash
Noun
  • The news spread quickly, and the prospect of IDR payments doubling or tripling for some married borrowers led to a flurry of questions, distress on social media, and even talk of extreme measures.
    Shahar Ziv, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025
  • In a flurry of diplomatic developments over the weekend, Russia shunned the ceasefire proposal tabled by the U.S. and European leaders, but offered direct talks with Ukraine on Thursday.
    Illia Novikov, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2025
Noun
  • The 23-year-old has the raw materials to become a decent striker, including a decent burst of acceleration, but needs to play more to develop, which might not happen at Barca.
    Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 16 May 2025
  • The pair hoped to make progress against urea-cycle disorders – inherited metabolic problems, like KJ’s that leave young children vulnerable to bursts of damaging ammonia.
    Karen Weintraub, USA Today, 16 May 2025
Noun
  • Epic Universe is located about 15 minutes away from Universal Orlando's existing parks.
    Samantha Neely, USA Today, 4 May 2025
  • The gauze must remain in place for at least 30 minutes.
    Mark Gurarie, Health, 3 May 2025
Noun
  • When the Mets somehow won the World Series in 1969, people called it a miracle.
    Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 5 May 2025
  • In their minds, the miracle cure gets worse odds than lighting striking you while a meteor lands on your head.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 4 May 2025
Noun
  • Nearly seven years since her last US tour, Shakira and her famous hips returned with a massive spectacle.
    Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 15 May 2025
  • The congressman sharply criticized President Donald Trump’s foreign policy, accusing him of prioritizing personal spectacle and showing admiration for authoritarian leaders.
    Heather Hunter, The Washington Examiner, 14 May 2025
Verb
  • The publication’s mascot, Eustace Tilley, is, after all, defined by accessories: his gleaming top hat, crisp white gloves, and dandyish monocle are all totems of both persnickety good taste and the febrile effort behind chasing it.
    Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 4 May 2025
  • En route from the gleaming airport terminal to our hotel in Lhasa, the nearly empty freeway and unoccupied high-rise apartments spoke to China’s massive investments in developing infrastructure in Tibet.
    Steven Jiang, CNN Money, 1 May 2025
Verb
  • Idaho's flag ban took effect on April 3, barring government officials from displaying any flags other than those on an approved short list, which includes the U.S. flag, flags of military branches and official flags of government entities.
    Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 May 2025
  • Utah’s law, which went into effect March 27 without Republican Gov. Spencer Cox’s signature, banned government agencies and public schools from displaying flags on public property unless explicitly named in the bill.
    Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 8 May 2025
Verb
  • Some are transparent; others twinkle with bioluminescent light.
    Katarina Zimmer, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 May 2025
  • The store carries the main line collections, and the high jewelry — necklaces and bracelets that twinkle with tanzanite, rubellite and emerald.
    Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 1 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Flash.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flash. Accessed 21 May. 2025.

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