1
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in explosions
a sudden intense expression of strong feeling
a much-needed flash of humor during the otherwise boring lecture
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in minutes
a very small space of time
the shower will be over in a flash
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in miracles
something extraordinary or surprising
the new goalie for our hockey team was apparently quite a flash in his hometown
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in gleams
to shoot forth bursts of light
the actress's diamond necklace flashed as she hurried on stage to accept the award
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in displays
to present so as to invite notice or attention
flashed a wad of cash as he paid for his dinner
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
4
as in announces
to make known openly or publicly
flashed the news of the royal birth around the world
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of flashes
Bryan West, USA Today, 14 June 2026
Doing this at scale—combining all this data, getting as many cameras on the sky looking for meteoric flashes as possible—is what really makes this a critical scientific tool.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 12 June 2026
Quick flashes of gunfire, explosions and action are seen as the teaser ramps up.
—Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 June 2026
There were flashes last season but it’s been more pronounced so far in 2026.
—Kansas City Star, 11 June 2026
After receiving a firing order, the vehicles maneuvered into position and launched their rockets with bright flashes within three minutes, demonstrating their mobility.
—Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2026
As the moon joins forces with Neptune, inspiration returns in flashes, but its sextile to Uranus supports fresh ideas, emotional breakthroughs and the courage to try something new.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 9 June 2026
Despite flashes of promise from some of the club’s young talent, victories have been difficult to come by, leaving fans searching for reasons to remain optimistic about the future and questioning the competence of rookie manager Tony Vitello.
—Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026
Land, a new novel by the Hamnet author Maggie O’Farrell, showcases her genius for infusing painful stories with flashes of pure bliss, Hillary Kelly writes.
—Will Gottsegen, The Atlantic, 6 June 2026
David Browne, Rolling Stone, 12 June 2026
Is Whalefall largely a dual narrative that flashes between the innards of a whale and the father-son relationship?
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 11 June 2026
The camera then cuts to the driver, who blows her a quick kiss and flashes a smile before setting his trophy down on the podium and cheering for his fellow champions.
—Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 8 June 2026
Moore, who played at Indiana, flashes every now and then by getting pass breakups.
—Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 8 June 2026
The front of the doorbell holds the call button, an LED ring that flashes blue when the button is pressed or white during a firmware update, an ambient light sensor, two infrared LEDs, and a microphone.
—John R. Delaney, PC Magazine, 2 June 2026
Sensing something is definitely amiss with Duncan, Carl flashes a satisfied smile.
—Matt Cabral, Entertainment Weekly, 1 June 2026
Noun
Throughout the set, lasers, strobes and flashes enchanted the audience, visuals dancing alongside the music.
—Bryan West, USA Today, 14 June 2026
Doing this at scale—combining all this data, getting as many cameras on the sky looking for meteoric flashes as possible—is what really makes this a critical scientific tool.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 12 June 2026
Quick flashes of gunfire, explosions and action are seen as the teaser ramps up.
—Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 June 2026
There were flashes last season but it’s been more pronounced so far in 2026.
—Kansas City Star, 11 June 2026
After receiving a firing order, the vehicles maneuvered into position and launched their rockets with bright flashes within three minutes, demonstrating their mobility.
—Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2026
As the moon joins forces with Neptune, inspiration returns in flashes, but its sextile to Uranus supports fresh ideas, emotional breakthroughs and the courage to try something new.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 9 June 2026
Despite flashes of promise from some of the club’s young talent, victories have been difficult to come by, leaving fans searching for reasons to remain optimistic about the future and questioning the competence of rookie manager Tony Vitello.
—Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026
Land, a new novel by the Hamnet author Maggie O’Farrell, showcases her genius for infusing painful stories with flashes of pure bliss, Hillary Kelly writes.
—Will Gottsegen, The Atlantic, 6 June 2026
Verb
Then Jaimoe pauses, flashes a quick, playful grin, and rolls his right pant leg up to his knee.
—David Browne, Rolling Stone, 12 June 2026
Is Whalefall largely a dual narrative that flashes between the innards of a whale and the father-son relationship?
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 11 June 2026
The camera then cuts to the driver, who blows her a quick kiss and flashes a smile before setting his trophy down on the podium and cheering for his fellow champions.
—Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 8 June 2026
Moore, who played at Indiana, flashes every now and then by getting pass breakups.
—Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 8 June 2026
The front of the doorbell holds the call button, an LED ring that flashes blue when the button is pressed or white during a firmware update, an ambient light sensor, two infrared LEDs, and a microphone.
—John R. Delaney, PC Magazine, 2 June 2026
Sensing something is definitely amiss with Duncan, Carl flashes a satisfied smile.
—Matt Cabral, Entertainment Weekly, 1 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flashes
Noun
-
Marketing gurus have spent decades on the art and science of distilling a brand message into super-short 15- or 30-second ad bursts.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
11 June 2026
-
Short bursts of work can keep productivity buzzing along.—
Aytekin Tank,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
On Wednesday, Iranian media reported that explosions were heard in Bandar Abbas, Sirik and Minab in the south of the country.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
11 June 2026
-
Cue the watch-party explosions across five boroughs!—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
Unlike standard eye drops that get washed away by tears within minutes, living eye drops use bacteria that colonize the eye and continuously release therapeutic proteins after a single application.—
Samantha Agate,
Kansas City Star,
16 June 2026
-
The lawsuit, filed on Saturday in the Central District of California, claims that the supermodel turned media personality participated in a 3½-hour interview, of which about 16 minutes was used.—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
The Probability of Miracles follows Campbell Cooper (Collazo), an acerbic teenager dying of cancer who, after receiving a terminal diagnosis, moves with her mom and younger sister to the town of Promise, where miracles are said to happen.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
9 June 2026
-
No one is expecting any miracles from the Sox, especially without Murakami’s moon shots.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
6 June 2026
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
Verb
-
In posters on classroom walls, the Standard Model displays 17 particles.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
15 June 2026
-
Pinney’s bold and free conception of how a drama is constituted, and its inseparability from time and memory, displays a rare associative virtuosity.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
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
-
But in the final scene, when Sam goes to the bathroom to change the bandage on his forehead, the mirror flickers with static at his reflection.—
Lynsey Eidell,
PEOPLE,
23 May 2026
Verb
-
Isar raises funding, announces new launch date.—
Eric Berger,
ArsTechnica,
12 June 2026
-
The Social Security Administration typically announces the COLA for the following year in October, and the change is based on third-quarter data.—
Lorie Konish,
CNBC,
12 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flashes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flashes. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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