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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
Heavy rainfall could trigger flash flooding of low-lying areas, urbanized street flooding, and debris flows in and near recent wildfire burn scars. Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025 The third model wears a blouse of the burgundy color with which Coco Chanel lined her bags; the fourth has on a blouse and simple-looking wrap skirt entirely in silk—a look about freedom and motion, with the occasional flash of leg. Nathan Heller, Vogue, 14 Oct. 2025
Verb
In four innings, the Jays flashed more power than the previous two games combined. Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025 As Kalshi has complained in court of the potential costs associated with geolocation, the company has flashed its cash elsewhere. Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Focus now shifts to Thursday’s weekly jobless claims numbers and S&P Global’s flash PMI data to gauge economic health in the wake of tariff uncertainties. Reuters, NBC news, 23 July 2025 Don’t let the lack of flash fool you — this guy is the real deal. Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for flash
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flash
Noun
  • The Orionid meteor shower peak begins tonight, welcoming a spectacular natural light show that could see a flurry of shooting stars spawned by Halley's Comet brighten the dark, moonless sky.
    Anthony Wood, Space.com, 20 Oct. 2025
  • Panahi, who has been imprisoned in Iran several times, is Stateside for the first time in two decades for the opening, doing a flurry of Q&As.
    Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 19 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Soon there was a burst of flame, which appeared to spread from the cab and shot out several feet from the driver's side of the truck.
    Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Halfmann's team knew this process takes a burst of energy.
    Jon Hamilton, NPR, 16 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • First when trailing by 14 in the final 15 minutes at Philadelphia.
    Troy Renck, Denver Post, 20 Oct. 2025
  • Bring to a boil over medium, and cook, stirring often, until cranberries burst and mixture thickens, 6 to 8 minutes.
    Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 20 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Barring an injury-recovery miracle, Dalton is going to start this game as Young rests his problematic ankle.
    Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 21 Oct. 2025
  • There was no better summation of the fourth-quarter miracle that unfolded on Sunday, by mirror image, than the Broncos’ game-winning drive in the fourth quarter.
    Luca Evans, Denver Post, 20 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Still, there is a thread that connects the spectacle of Formula 1 with the everyday act of driving – the relentless pursuit of safety, and the transformative power of technology and standards to save lives on the road.
    Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2025
  • The 2025 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show was held on Wednesday in Brooklyn, New York, continuing the brand’s famous runway spectacle tradition.
    Julia Teti, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Today, the street has been thoroughly modernized, replaced by a gleaming forest of glass towers housing spacious condos with bird’s-eye views and sky-high prices.
    Mark David, Robb Report, 13 Oct. 2025
  • Los Angeles — News of the killings was already spreading as the summer sun began to warm the tennis court behind Jose and Kitty Menendez’s gleaming Beverly Hills mansion on August 21,1989.
    Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 12 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Island of the Dolls Truly the stuff of Chucky nightmares, Mexico’s Island of the Dolls—La Isla de las Muñecas—amid the Xochimilco canals south of Mexico City is known for hundreds of dolls displayed throughout the island.
    Sophie Friedman, AFAR Media, 22 Oct. 2025
  • The best protection displayed during the Seattle Seahawks' win over the Houston Texans on Monday night wasn’t by anyone suited up on either sideline.
    Paulina Dedaj, FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The 200-foot-long immersive light tunnel lost 170 feet of twinkling illumination, also in need of reinstallation.
    Jose R. Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 15 Oct. 2025
  • Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter will feature twinkling lights, magical garlands and cheerful wreaths, plus traditional holiday a cappella performances from The Frog Choir.
    Tom Tapp, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Flash.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flash. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.

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