FLASHES Synonyms: 231 Similar and Opposite Words

flashes 1 of 2

noun

plural of flash

as in bursts

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

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Relevance

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as in explosions

a sudden intense expression of strong feeling a much-needed flash of humor during the otherwise boring lecture

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as in minutes

a very small space of time the shower will be over in a flash

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as in miracles

something extraordinary or surprising the new goalie for our hockey team was apparently quite a flash in his hometown

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flashes

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of flash

as in gleams

to shoot forth bursts of light the actress's diamond necklace flashed as she hurried on stage to accept the award

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as in displays

to present so as to invite notice or attention flashed a wad of cash as he paid for his dinner

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as in twinkles

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

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as in announces

to make known openly or publicly flashed the news of the royal birth around the world

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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 flashes

Noun

The sample size is only 10 games, and though his quarterback rating was the second-worst among signal-callers with more than 155 pass attempts, there were some flashes of good quarterback play. — Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 15 Aug. 2026 They’re being ragdolled by mechanical seats, sprayed by gusts of water, jarred by simulated flashes of lightning, and by all indications having a great time. — Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 12 Aug. 2026 As the moon slid into place over the sun, onlookers may have seen Baily’s beads—flashes of sunlight shining through valleys along the moon’s rugged limb. — Claire Cameron & Lee Billings, Scientific American, 12 Aug. 2026 One of these events is known as Baily’s Beads, when flashes of light shine through gaps along the moon’s uneven edge. — Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026 The officer, whose silver-and-gold watch flashes in the light, doesn’t seem intent on helping Pope. — Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026 Trillions of neutrinos — mostly those produced in the sun — pass through our bodies every second, yet after years of hunting them with detectors such as SNO+, researchers have captured only a few hundred thousand of their precious flashes. — James Dinneen, Quanta Magazine, 7 Aug. 2026 Jacas, whose reps have steadily increased over the week, has by no means dominated for even a stretch of practice, but flashes of excellent upper-body strength and burst off the line are there. — Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 6 Aug. 2026 Thunderstorms that sweep through the Kansas City area producing brilliant flashes of lightning and booming thunder knocked off power to around 10,000 customers in the Kansas City area. — Kansas City Star, 6 Aug. 2026

Verb

As Robert Spillane works through a quiet camp, fellow inside linebacker Christian Elliss flashes again and again, this time in coverage during 7-on-7s with a pass breakup. — Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 1 Aug. 2026 Danny Trejo flashes a smile at San Diego’s Comic-Con International on July 25. — Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 29 July 2026 The other flashes forward to the mid-1990s and focuses on a team of FBI agents (including Shailene Woodley and Alexander Ludwig) hunting the elusive Unabomber who get a significant lead in the case connected to Kaczynski’s past. — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 29 July 2026 The system, when working, flashes warning signs, alerts law enforcement to respond and displays messages on digital signs to warn drivers on the Turnpike. — Miami Herald, 24 July 2026 Belafonte flashes his famous smile under his famous widow’s peak. — Joshua Jelly-Schapiro, Vanity Fair, 21 July 2026 Dent works to instill a culture of swift response anytime a light outside a room door flashes on. — Bruce Finley, Denver Post, 5 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for flashes

Noun

Solar panels produce massive bursts of cheap electricity during midday.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 17 Aug. 2026
The trick is to hold the can 8 to 10 inches away, and spray in short bursts.

— Iman Balagam, Vogue, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of bursts

Noun

Small explosions happen within the park every few years and generally present localized dangers.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 12 Aug. 2026
Earlier this summer in Germany, evacuations were ordered in record-breaking heat after a wildfire triggered explosions in a nature reserve strewn with leftover ordnance from World War II.

— John Vaillant, Time, 8 Aug. 2026

Definition of explosions

Noun

While there was no doubt who the better fighter was after 25 minutes of action, UFC analyst Joe Rogan thinks the champ made a mistake at the end of the bout.

— Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2026
Game time is coming more regularly now for the 16-year-old, having racked up almost 50 percent of his senior career minutes since the start of May.

— Thom Harris, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of minutes

Verb

Like Beckham’s dress, the 100-percent silk dress softly gleams in the light.

— Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 12 Dec. 2025
Despite a couple of funky skips, the album is fueled by the hunger of an artist who really wants the pop life again, perking up electro-scuzz and arena rock with new wave that gleams like glitter.

— Pitchfork, Pitchfork, 4 Dec. 2025

Definition of gleams

Verb

Both displays support adaptive brightness for automatic adjustments based on the ambient lighting and reach a maximum output of 3,000 nits, which is plenty bright, even when viewed in direct sunlight.

— Andrew Gebhart, PC Magazine, 15 Aug. 2026
Adjacent to the shrine is the Yushukan Museum, which displays wartime artifacts.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of displays

Verb

In the camp’s Cinema building, an old projector flickers to life on the scene where young Billy (Amanda Fix) loses her virginity, and the real Billy materializes behind Kris, hoping for a jump.

— JP Mangalindan, Time, 10 Aug. 2026
On another monitor, a dashboard that resembles the menu screen of a flight simulator flickers to life — only this is no simulation.

— Walker Armstrong, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 June 2026

Definition of flickers

Verb

After the match, Mick Foley comes to the ring and announces that Statlander will compete in a four-way match for the TBS Championship next week against champion Maya World, Hikaru Shida and Persephone.

— Rob Wolkenbrod, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026
There’s character aplenty, particularly in a main stand that announces proudly in its brickwork frontage just who are the home team here.

— Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026