Synonyms of flash

flash 1 of 3

noun

1

as in flurry

a sudden and usually temporary growth of activity

a flash of last-minute trips to the grocery store before the onset of the big snowstorm

Synonyms & Similar Words

• flurry
• burst
• flicker
• flutter
• outburst
• flare
• surge
• outbreak
• spurt
• increase
• eruption
• boost
• flood
• explosion
• renewal
• flare-up
• recurrence
• pickup
• upturn
• rush
• recrudescence
• spree
• upswing
• volley
• paroxysm
• deluge
• epidemic
• binge
• commotion
• spate
• jag
• furor
• uproar

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• slump
• calm
• doldrums

2

as in burst

a sudden intense expression of strong feeling

a much-needed flash of humor during the otherwise boring lecture

Synonyms & Similar Words

• burst
• explosion
• outburst
• eruption
• blaze
• flare
• gust
• flush
• spasm
• gale
• storm
• fit
• frenzy
• paroxysm
• gush
• agony
• ebullition
• rage
• flare-up
• tantrum
• ecstasy
• transport
• rapture
• blowup
• firestorm
• delirium
• furor
• grouch

3

as in minute

a very small space of time

the shower will be over in a flash

Synonyms & Similar Words

• minute
• second
• heartbeat
• moment
• instant
• twinkle
• twinkling
• nanosecond
• trice
• split second
• wink
• jiffy
• shake
• beat
• eyeblink
• jiff
• microsecond
• New York minute
• snatch
• spurt

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• eternity
• age
• forever
• lifetime
• infinity
• eon

4

as in miracle

something extraordinary or surprising

the new goalie for our hockey team was apparently quite a flash in his hometown

Synonyms & Similar Words

• miracle
• marvel
• wonder
• phenomenon
• sensation
• prodigy
• beauty
• splendor
• portent
• caution
• spectacle
• sight
• curiosity
• appearance
• knockout
• apparition
• crackerjack
• corker
• dandy
• jim-dandy

5

as in spectacle

excessive or unnecessary display

the expensive clothes, the luxury cars, and other apparent signs of success are all flash that belie the fact that the family is up to its ears in debt

Synonyms & Similar Words

• spectacle
• glitz
• decoration
• pomp
• ornamentation
• flamboyance
• flashiness
• ostentation
• swank
• gaudiness
• fanfare
• parade
• luxuriance
• luxuriousness
• dressing
• garishness
• showiness
• adornment
• dazzle
• show
• ostentatiousness
• pretentiousness
• extravaganza
• pretense
• trimming
• pageant
• pageantry
• mummery
• éclat
• richness
• embellishment
• magnificence
• razzmatazz
• razzle-dazzle
• garnishment
• opulence
• sumptuousness
• extravagance
• vulgarity
• foofaraw
• luridness
• fanciness
• tawdriness
• meretriciousness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• severity
• restraint
• simplicity
• austerity
• plainness
• moderation
• modesty
• elegance
• understatement
• conservativeness
• gracefulness
• minimalism
• tastefulness

flash

2 of 3

verb

ˈflash 

1

as in to gleam

to shoot forth bursts of light

the actress's diamond necklace flashed as she hurried on stage to accept the award

Synonyms & Similar Words

• gleam
• glint
• shimmer
• glitter
• sparkle
• shine
• twinkle
• glow
• glisten
• flame
• glimmer
• glance
• wink
• scintillate
• beam
• glister
• coruscate
• spangle
• luster
• winkle
• dazzle
• flare
• blind
• radiate
• glare
• blaze
• burn
• daze
• bedazzle

2

as in to display

to present so as to invite notice or attention

flashed a wad of cash as he paid for his dinner

Synonyms & Similar Words

• display
• show
• exhibit
• wave
• expose
• produce
• parade
• unveil
• show off
• announce
• strut
• sport
• flaunt
• lay out
• reveal
• advertise
• air
• broadcast
• proclaim
• flourish
• post
• disport
• tell (of)
• sound
• blaze
• publicize
• discover
• brandish
• bare
• herald
• divulge
• trumpet
• talk (about)
• placard
• uncover
• unmask
• uncloak

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• mask
• camouflage
• disguise
• curtain
• hide
• cover
• conceal
• obscure
• veil
• occlude
• shroud
• occult
• enshroud

3

as in to twinkle

to shine with light at regular intervals

the disco lights flashed, and the revelers danced

Synonyms & Similar Words

• twinkle
• flicker
• flare
• blink
• sparkle
• glint
• wink
• shimmer
• glitter
• glimmer
• spark
• glisten
• glance
• scintillate
• glister
• coruscate
• spangle

4

as in to publish

to make known openly or publicly

flashed the news of the royal birth around the world

Synonyms & Similar Words

• publish
• announce
• declare
• proclaim
• post
• advertise
• broadcast
• sound
• run with
• blaze
• release
• publicize
• disclose
• promulgate
• herald
• blare
• give out
• trumpet
• promote
• annunciate
• reveal
• beat the drum (for or about)
• placard
• spread
• show
• enunciate
• report
• bulletin
• call (off or out)
• blazon
• disseminate
• ring
• cry
• feature
• bark
• puff
• introduce
• plug
• toll
• billboard
• impart
• notify
• inform
• manifest
• bill
• knell
• communicate
• divulge
• hand down
• blurb
• kithe
• gazette
• pitch
• intimate
• apprise
• advise

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• conceal
• suppress
• silence
• withhold
• recall
• revoke
• hush (up)
• retract
• recant

flash

3 of 3

adjective

as in brief

lasting only for a short time

flash floods in the local area

Synonyms & Similar Words

• brief
• temporary
• passing
• transient
• momentary
• fleeting
• short
• evanescent
• transitory
• ephemeral
• little
• deciduous
• fugitive
• short-lived
• fugacious
• impermanent
• acting
• short-term
• interim
• shortish
• provisional

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• permanent
• eternal
• lasting
• everlasting
• endless
• enduring
• perpetual
• unending
• timeless
• immortal
• undying
• deathless
• ceaseless
• persistent
• lifelong
• durable
• continuing
• long-lived
• dateless
• indestructible
• imperishable
• indefectible

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

Recent Examples of flash

Noun

Vahl paints a stark portrait of the town and its few inhabitants — basically three men left in charge of a few dozen others — in succinct brushstrokes that combine the remote pastoral locations with flashes of gore and violence. — Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 23 Sep. 2026

As the music intensifies, so does the questioning, as Fielder continues to push Holmes and Evans about what’s real and what’s being hidden from him as moodily lighted close-up shots flash. — Anthony Solorzano, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2026

Verb

After Rodrigo Blankenship missed an early field goal in the 2018 Rose Bowl, cameras caught Mayfield flashing a choke sign at Georgia. — Connor Riley, AJC.com, 23 Sep. 2026

Smith drove to the home anyway and said seeing the flashing police lights made the reality of what had happened sink in. — Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 22 Sep. 2026

Adjective

Don’t miss Alcopop’s Black Mango Watermelon, Seongju Chamoe and Watermelon Ice Pop; Matcha Latte, with flash-frozen local herbs and a hand-cut ice diamond; and Journey, a concoction that maps a tomato’s global odyssey. — Melinda Sheckells, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026

Kansas City will go from springlike warmth to winter fast as a powerful storm sweeps through Sunday, bringing damaging winds, a rapid temperature plunge with flash-freeze risk, and a quick burst of snow that could cut visibility, according to the National Weather Service. — Kansas City Star, 14 Mar. 2026

Phrases Containing flash

• flash back (to)
• flash point