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
Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 13 Jan. 2026
Those flickers or flashes were used to show intrusive thoughts or moments of wonder.
—Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 13 Jan. 2026
Clever layering tricks came from Tory Burch and Michael Rider at Celine, where neutrals are juxtaposed by flashes vivid color and touches of bold print.
—Andrea Zendejas, Vogue, 13 Jan. 2026
And while two-way guard Daniss Jenkins has shown great flashes, the Pistons shouldn’t feel great about him as an option, either.
—Sam Vecenie, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026
The punctuation of the narrative with non-chronological flashes and scene is consistent through almost the whole film.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2026
The look was polished from root to tip, with a glossy finish that practically bounced off the camera flashes.
—Larry Stansbury, Essence, 8 Jan. 2026
There are games that require the player to remember and repeat patterns, to build on sequences, or to pick incorrect flashes in an existing pattern.
—New Atlas, 8 Jan. 2026
Which state had the most overall flashes?
—Doyle Rice, USA Today, 5 Jan. 2026
Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 20 Jan. 2026
Sir Idris Elba flashes his charming smile while visiting the Graham Norton Show, at BBC Studioworks in London.
—Katie Hill, PEOPLE, 20 Jan. 2026
Burnett pauses, considers the question, and then flashes a mischievous grin.
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Jan. 2026
The show flashes forward 18 months to Hawkins, Indiana, being rebuilt as an idyllic version of Small Town America.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 31 Dec. 2025
Mindy, like an absolute child, flashes her engagement ring rather than having an adult conversation with Alfie.
—Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025
Schlepping from town to town to support his gruesome secret tradition, Billy flashes forward from a terrifying memory from the car-jacking that killed his parents when was 8 years old.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 11 Dec. 2025
Noun
Tracy’s script skewers the hollow moral language of powerful corporate elites like Stone’s character, while also probing the anger and alienation driving Teddy and Don, treating their bonkers beliefs with both satire and unsettling flashes of emotional truth.
—Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 13 Jan. 2026
Those flickers or flashes were used to show intrusive thoughts or moments of wonder.
—Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 13 Jan. 2026
Clever layering tricks came from Tory Burch and Michael Rider at Celine, where neutrals are juxtaposed by flashes vivid color and touches of bold print.
—Andrea Zendejas, Vogue, 13 Jan. 2026
And while two-way guard Daniss Jenkins has shown great flashes, the Pistons shouldn’t feel great about him as an option, either.
—Sam Vecenie, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026
The punctuation of the narrative with non-chronological flashes and scene is consistent through almost the whole film.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2026
The look was polished from root to tip, with a glossy finish that practically bounced off the camera flashes.
—Larry Stansbury, Essence, 8 Jan. 2026
There are games that require the player to remember and repeat patterns, to build on sequences, or to pick incorrect flashes in an existing pattern.
—New Atlas, 8 Jan. 2026
Which state had the most overall flashes?
—Doyle Rice, USA Today, 5 Jan. 2026
Verb
The mysterious crime family flashes across the screen with John Noble and Luke Kirby portraying certain members.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 20 Jan. 2026
Sir Idris Elba flashes his charming smile while visiting the Graham Norton Show, at BBC Studioworks in London.
—Katie Hill, PEOPLE, 20 Jan. 2026
Burnett pauses, considers the question, and then flashes a mischievous grin.
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Jan. 2026
The show flashes forward 18 months to Hawkins, Indiana, being rebuilt as an idyllic version of Small Town America.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 31 Dec. 2025
Mindy, like an absolute child, flashes her engagement ring rather than having an adult conversation with Alfie.
—Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025
Schlepping from town to town to support his gruesome secret tradition, Billy flashes forward from a terrifying memory from the car-jacking that killed his parents when was 8 years old.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 11 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flashes
Noun
-
The team layered multiple types of hydrogels, including water-rich, conductive materials, in a precise pattern that mimics the ionic processes electric eels use to produce bursts of electricity.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Jan. 2026
-
At Café Pasqual’s, the James Beard Award-winning eatery in the heart of downtown, every dish bursts with the vibrant flavors of organic, farm-to-table ingredients.—
Condé Nast Traveler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Video footage that appeared to be taken at the scene captured loud blasts and the sky glowing following explosions that began around midnight and lasted about two hours in the area of Diori Hamani International Airport.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Using a telescope at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile, the team also detected and studied more than 1,500 supernova explosions of a type that can be used to track the expansion history of the Universe.—
Nature magazine,
Scientific American,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The driver then drove into the city of Wheat Ridge and allegedly crashed into a Honda Pilot near Pierce Street and West 32nd Avenue several minutes later before continuing on.—
Austen Erblat,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Stir; season lightly with salt (this will help draw out water from the mushrooms) and cook, undisturbed, until golden, about 5 minutes.—
Hana Asbrink,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
New manager Walt Weiss, Atlanta’s bench coach under Snitker for the past eight seasons, now needs a myriad of medical miracles to get the team back to its usual perch at the top of the National League East.—
Dan Schlossberg,
Forbes.com,
18 Jan. 2026
-
The nonviolent way does not bring about miracles.—
NBC news,
NBC news,
18 Jan. 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
-
The list below displays all public schools in alphabetical order, followed by private schools and then colleges and universities.—
Mike Toole,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Seeing the actress let her freak flag fly is a delight, and O’Brien, whose character also displays many facets, matches her step for step.—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Magician Doug Henning announces plans to build Veda Land, a theme park based on magic, mysticism and transcendental meditation, in Osceola County.—
Dewayne Bevil,
The Orlando Sentinel,
31 Jan. 2026
-
American Express announces the new platinum business card.—
Hugh Son,
CNBC,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Snow flurries were reported in Tampa and Sarasota, and the thermometer dropped to 30 degrees at Miami International Airport on Christmas Day 1989.—
Howard Cohen,
Miami Herald,
29 Jan. 2026
-
For the most part, the flurries will be light and not expected to cause problems, although there is a low chance for light snow accumulations — a tenth or two of an inch — along the Iowa and Missouri border, the weather service said.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flashes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flashes. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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