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
Grant Afseth, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
Goodwin, signed late in the season from Australia, showed flashes in his brief playoff action.
—Colin Cerniglia, Charlotte Observer, 7 Nov. 2025
Carbone Riviera builds a new narrative with its menu, one focused on whole fish, fresh ingredients flown in daily, and flashes of the restaurant’s signature creations.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 6 Nov. 2025
These autobiographical flashes arrive in operatic waves.
—Thania Garcia, Variety, 6 Nov. 2025
Attoseconds, the billionths of a billionth of a second, are the shortest flashes of light ever created.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 5 Nov. 2025
Fujii has documented a total of 60 flashes so far.
—Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 4 Nov. 2025
Among the first to draw the camera flashes were Cindy Crawford and Kaia Gerber, the ultimate mother-daughter duo, both in custom Gucci gowns.
—Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 2 Nov. 2025
Sacramento State has shown flashes of promise, including going 4-1 in games leading into the Montana contest.
—Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 29 Oct. 2025
Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Oct. 2025
The movie begins with a 10-year-old Michael already showing the brutality for which The Shape was known, then flashes forward 15 years to an adult Michael (Tyler Mane) pursuing his younger sister, Laurie (Scout Taylor-Compton).
—Jessica Sager, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025
The amps are now gone, but the cross still flashes onscreen.
—Alma Rota, Rolling Stone, 14 Oct. 2025
Andy Lyons / Getty Images The greatest women’s track and field star of her generation flashes a contagious smile.
—Jason Jones, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
That nucleotide flashes light in a characteristic color that identifies which base is being connected.
—IEEE Spectrum, 2 Oct. 2025
The film begins with a flashback scene to the beginning of the rage virus, then flashes forward 28 years to an isolated island near the Scottish Highlands, where its inhabitants are isolated from the zombie-like creatures that roam the mainland.
—Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
The fall in home borrowing costs comes as the bond market flashes signals that the US economy may be deteriorating more than expected, after new data suggested that the US labor market was much weaker than previously thought.
—Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2025
But before the title even flashes on screen, we are granted the disturbingly detailed view of a bullet ripping through the face of a young boy.
—Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
Head coach Kalen DeBoer said the offense has shown flashes but needs better timing to fully capitalize.
—Grant Afseth, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
Goodwin, signed late in the season from Australia, showed flashes in his brief playoff action.
—Colin Cerniglia, Charlotte Observer, 7 Nov. 2025
Carbone Riviera builds a new narrative with its menu, one focused on whole fish, fresh ingredients flown in daily, and flashes of the restaurant’s signature creations.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 6 Nov. 2025
These autobiographical flashes arrive in operatic waves.
—Thania Garcia, Variety, 6 Nov. 2025
Attoseconds, the billionths of a billionth of a second, are the shortest flashes of light ever created.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 5 Nov. 2025
Fujii has documented a total of 60 flashes so far.
—Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 4 Nov. 2025
Among the first to draw the camera flashes were Cindy Crawford and Kaia Gerber, the ultimate mother-daughter duo, both in custom Gucci gowns.
—Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 2 Nov. 2025
Sacramento State has shown flashes of promise, including going 4-1 in games leading into the Montana contest.
—Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 29 Oct. 2025
Verb
Watts then looks toward the Kardashians camera and flashes a befuddled look.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Oct. 2025
The movie begins with a 10-year-old Michael already showing the brutality for which The Shape was known, then flashes forward 15 years to an adult Michael (Tyler Mane) pursuing his younger sister, Laurie (Scout Taylor-Compton).
—Jessica Sager, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025
The amps are now gone, but the cross still flashes onscreen.
—Alma Rota, Rolling Stone, 14 Oct. 2025
Andy Lyons / Getty Images The greatest women’s track and field star of her generation flashes a contagious smile.
—Jason Jones, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
That nucleotide flashes light in a characteristic color that identifies which base is being connected.
—IEEE Spectrum, 2 Oct. 2025
The film begins with a flashback scene to the beginning of the rage virus, then flashes forward 28 years to an isolated island near the Scottish Highlands, where its inhabitants are isolated from the zombie-like creatures that roam the mainland.
—Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
The fall in home borrowing costs comes as the bond market flashes signals that the US economy may be deteriorating more than expected, after new data suggested that the US labor market was much weaker than previously thought.
—Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2025
But before the title even flashes on screen, we are granted the disturbingly detailed view of a bullet ripping through the face of a young boy.
—Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 11 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flashes
Noun
-
Fortunately, Marty, posing as a federal agent here to arrest Lee for harassment, bursts through the One Well doors in the nick of time.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
5 Nov. 2025
-
These collisions unleash bursts of energy, allowing physicists to explore the most fundamental building blocks of the universe.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The children grow before the camera’s eye, taking their first steps and speaking their first words to the backdrop of explosions—moving from tent to tent, clinging to life, and longing for their mother’s embrace.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
10 Nov. 2025
-
For soldiers caught in explosions, survival often comes at a steep physical cost.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Just over two minutes into the second period, Ovechkin backhanded a rebound off Blues goalie Jordan Binnington for his milestone goal.—
Jacob Lev,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
-
After a few minutes Matty walked in and sat across from me.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
But one might be forgiven for believing in the possibility of miracles.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
-
The old world was one of conjecture, miracles and guesswork.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The Airstream gleams absurdly against the ocherous land below.—
Rowan Jacobsen,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Patches of unintelligibility are nothing new in Pynchon, but usually a coherent world view gleams upward from the murk.—
Kathryn Schulz,
New Yorker,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The second postcard displays a tree that is bursting with coins, as if money is sprouting from the branches.—
Tope Folarin,
The Atlantic,
8 Nov. 2025
-
The map displays the 40 airports required by the FAA to reduce flights, which are primarily major airports in large cities with high volumes of air traffic.—
Rob Wile,
NBC news,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Shell announces share buybacks as earnings top estimates.—
Ian King,
CNBC,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Trump announces a second strike reportedly kills three people in the Caribbean.—
Anne Flaherty,
ABC News,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
As temperatures get below freezing, a few snow flurries are possible across most of the area, according to the weather service.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Mall of America—the country’s largest shopping destination—makes tackling your holiday list a breeze, while the Minneapolis Institute of Art delivers a dose of culture and calm between snow flurries.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Flashes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flashes. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.
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