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
Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 28 Mar. 2026
Then, without warning, colors start rippling across its skin — flashes of deep crimson, bursts of mottled brown, rapid shifts in texture — while its eyes dart and its limbs twitch.
—Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2026
The Panthers are comfortable with Hubbard toting the ball, and Etienne — a fourth-round pick last year — has shown some flashes.
—Mike Kaye
march 26, Charlotte Observer, 26 Mar. 2026
The Swift Observatory is equipped with a Burst Alert Telescope that surveys a huge amount of the sky at once, looking for flashes of light and pinpointing their locations.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 26 Mar. 2026
Nearly every spacecraft that has passed by Jupiter to date has detected lightning, with flashes visible on the planet's night side.
—Charles Q. Choi, Space.com, 26 Mar. 2026
There are enough flashes of potential to suggest it didn’t have to be this way.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 22 Mar. 2026
The device detects quick flashes in the atmosphere and is usually used to continuously map lightning strikes, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 17 Mar. 2026
The Dallas defense showed flashes of promise during the 2025 season, especially after it was gutted by the trade of star pass rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers just one week before opening the regular season.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 17 Mar. 2026
Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 18 Mar. 2026
After following the characters from high school to college, the series flashes forward five years for the finale with one final gut-punch.
—Will Harris, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Mar. 2026
Durbin flashes leather If Thursday was any indication, the Red Sox will be in good hands if Alex Cora decides to roll with Caleb Durbin as the club’s starting second baseman.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 26 Feb. 2026
Your Roomba emits a chime and flashes its indicator ring or a Wi-Fi symbol.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 20 Feb. 2026
In his arms, a baby Jesus with mysteriously mature eye bags flashes a peace sign.
—Hannah Towey, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Feb. 2026
As the trailer flashes through some of the most intense scenes from the show, among them is the moment where Dani is carried out by production after suffering from dehydration during the season.
—Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 27 Jan. 2026
The mysterious crime family flashes across the screen with John Noble and Luke Kirby portraying certain members.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 20 Jan. 2026
Noun
That was one of nine strikeouts for Bradley, who showed flashes of the electric stuff that has made the Twins so excited about his future.
—Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 28 Mar. 2026
Then, without warning, colors start rippling across its skin — flashes of deep crimson, bursts of mottled brown, rapid shifts in texture — while its eyes dart and its limbs twitch.
—Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2026
The Panthers are comfortable with Hubbard toting the ball, and Etienne — a fourth-round pick last year — has shown some flashes.
—Mike Kaye
march 26, Charlotte Observer, 26 Mar. 2026
The Swift Observatory is equipped with a Burst Alert Telescope that surveys a huge amount of the sky at once, looking for flashes of light and pinpointing their locations.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 26 Mar. 2026
Nearly every spacecraft that has passed by Jupiter to date has detected lightning, with flashes visible on the planet's night side.
—Charles Q. Choi, Space.com, 26 Mar. 2026
There are enough flashes of potential to suggest it didn’t have to be this way.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 22 Mar. 2026
The device detects quick flashes in the atmosphere and is usually used to continuously map lightning strikes, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 17 Mar. 2026
The Dallas defense showed flashes of promise during the 2025 season, especially after it was gutted by the trade of star pass rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers just one week before opening the regular season.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 17 Mar. 2026
Verb
An hour goes by, and then, through a slit in the curtains, Miley Cyrus flashes a smile and tips her oversize black sunglasses.
—Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 18 Mar. 2026
After following the characters from high school to college, the series flashes forward five years for the finale with one final gut-punch.
—Will Harris, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Mar. 2026
Durbin flashes leather If Thursday was any indication, the Red Sox will be in good hands if Alex Cora decides to roll with Caleb Durbin as the club’s starting second baseman.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 26 Feb. 2026
Your Roomba emits a chime and flashes its indicator ring or a Wi-Fi symbol.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 20 Feb. 2026
In his arms, a baby Jesus with mysteriously mature eye bags flashes a peace sign.
—Hannah Towey, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Feb. 2026
As the trailer flashes through some of the most intense scenes from the show, among them is the moment where Dani is carried out by production after suffering from dehydration during the season.
—Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 27 Jan. 2026
The mysterious crime family flashes across the screen with John Noble and Luke Kirby portraying certain members.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 20 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flashes
Noun
-
Videos recorded by passengers show sparks and bursts of flame coming from the engine, lighting up the night sky as the aircraft gained altitude.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The Poison frontman, evoking the regional dialect of his native Pittsburgh, bursts with adrenaline on a typical day.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In Israel, loud explosions filled the air in Tel Aviv and emergency crews responded to nearly a dozen impact sites.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
-
According to the Iranian media, one witness reported hearing multiple explosions near Mashhad Airport shortly after 7 pm, local time.—
Moriah Thomas,
CNN Money,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Chiesa di San Luigi dei Francesi Even if not a huge art buff, take the five minutes to wander to the Contarelli chapel inside this small catholic church which is just a short stroll from the Pantheon.—
CNT Editors,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
-
About 2 minutes and 40 seconds into the fight, Grasso drilled Barber in the head with a left hook, knocking her out.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
That wasn't the case, as there were no miracles to be had for this Blue Devils team.—
Matthew Couden,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
-
These scholars have argued that all those odd things—levitation, bilocation, miracles of all kinds, witchcraft—really did happen.—
Chandler Fritz,
The New York Review of Books,
21 Mar. 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
-
Bubb noted that aircraft are also equipped with a Traffic Collision Avoidance System, or TCAS, which displays the positions and altitudes of other nearby planes.—
Soo Kim,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The app displays a handful of grocery staples — eggs, milk, bread, butter and potatoes — and touts how much costs for those items have gone down year over year.—
Kevin Breuninger,
CNBC,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Not every meaningful connection announces itself in advance.—
Kirah Tabourn,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Mar. 2026
-
The prologue that opens Ragtime loudly announces the musical’s epic ambitions as its nine fictional characters and six of its historical figures introduce themselves with third-person narration and shout-singing.—
Manuel Mendoza,
Dallas Morning News,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Curry magic, Curry flurries, Curry bringing an arena to its feet.—
Sports Columnist,
San Francisco Chronicle,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The light snow flurries in the Tahoe area this week after a spell of record-setting March heatwaves across California were not enough to reverse the damage.—
Chaewon Chung,
Sacbee.com,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flashes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flashes. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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