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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Fault currents, which can fry components and cause dangerous arc flashes, are one challenge, requiring new protection measures and solid-state circuit breakers. — Alex Pasternack, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026 The Panthers have shown flashes of their potential this season, but consistency on both sides of the ball will be critical to winning close games. — Alejandro Hernandez, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2026 In either case, the projector will rotate through the primary colors more rapidly, which helps minimize the likelihood of seeing rainbow artifacts (flashes of red, green, blue, and—in this case—yellow). — M. David Stone, PC Magazine, 18 Oct. 2026 Electrons move so quickly inside atoms and molecules that studying their behavior requires flashes of light lasting just a fraction of a billionth of a billionth of a second. — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026 But the 25-year-old, after a brief call-up in May, showed flashes of brilliance at the plate and on the field during his 38 games with the Braves before being sent back to Triple-A for the remainder of the season. — Chad Bishop, AJC.com, 15 Oct. 2026 This story of a West Virginia family with a very unusual tradition has notes of Edward Gorey and Rebecca, but Chronister creates a world all her own, its mossy darkness illuminated by flashes of humor. — Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2026 Surveillance video from a neighbor's house appears to show gunshot flashes as the violence erupted. — Naveen Dhaliwal, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026 Dabrowski sees its appeal as an aesthetic rather than simply a trend, pointing to the scarves, flashes of colors, especially red, and distinctly Parisian styling. — Alex Badia, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 2026

Verb

Creative endeavor, in the space of a few hours, flashes its many faces, arduous and sexy, fleeting and fun. — Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026 This option from Vantamo flashes a bright light and emits a 130-decibel sound from dual speakers whenever the top pin is pulled, alerting passersby of the emergency and scaring off potential assailants. — Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 20 Sep. 2026 The show then flashes forward to the other women emotionally processing the news of his overdose and coming together at Angie’s to console one another and share memories of Robert. — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2026 Walker flashes rare ability for a player his size and within Leonhard’s scheme. — Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for flashes

Noun

But this research suggests that automation can happen in bursts, and those bursts tend to cluster around recessions.

— Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 20 Oct. 2026
On a night this cold, the bursts of flame were almost as welcome as the spectacle, providing a few seconds of actual warmth to fans on the field and in the lower bowl.

— Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of bursts

Noun

First responders, hazmat and safety teams are not approaching the tank because of the risk of more explosions, and will reassess conditions later Wednesday morning, Kapszukiewicz said.

— John Seewer, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026
North Korea denied responsibility for the explosions and warned of strong retaliation if provoked.

— ABC News, ABC News, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of explosions

Noun

Slemmer was beaten and cut with a meat cleaver and a box cutter for somewhere between 30 minutes and an hour.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026
According to Rubin, online criticisms against the store emerged 15 minutes after Clarkson left the store.

— Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of minutes

Noun

Even those who don’t believe in miracles must concede the improbability of such historic continuity.

— Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 8 Oct. 2026
The woman understood from her hasty reading that perhaps all miracles could be attributed to saints and angels if they were experienced by a believer.

— Ellen O’Connell Whittet, Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of miracles

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

The fake Claude page displays an installation command that appears to come directly from Anthropic, the company behind Claude.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
Be intentional about noticing autumn and Halloween displays on lawns and porches, which seem as popular as ever this year.

— Dana Kelley, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of displays

Verb

The red neon casting a Hopper-esque glow over the parking lot flickers as a train goes by.

— Amanda Lee Koe, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
Layered background sighs, a resonant lead vocal, autumnal acoustic guitar flickers, synths both eerie and trippy—James has all his tricks on tap.

— Ryan Leas, Pitchfork, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of flickers

Verb

Dodgers veteran infielder Miguel Rojas announces his retirement immediately after the team’s season-ending loss to the Milwaukee Brewers in the NLCS.

— Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
The award announces that demonizing Jews and the Jewish state can be a spectacularly successful legal career strategy.

— Anne Bayefsky, New York Daily News, 14 Oct. 2026