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
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
Jaylon Thompson
may 30, Kansas City Star, 30 May 2026
As Wiley entered menopause and experienced the hot flashes, hair-thinning, and other physical symptoms that come with it, her straightening treatment—once a moment for pampering—became an exhausting chore.
—Annie Blay-Tettey, Allure, 29 May 2026
The Hurricanes have shown flashes this season of being a team capable of making a deep postseason run.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 28 May 2026
The mostly monochromatic palette, punctuated with flashes of blood red and cobalt, lends the whole place a cinematic quality, like something from a Paolo Sorrentino film, rather than your standard five-star interior.
—Jamie Timson, TheWeek, 27 May 2026
Williamson has shown flashes of being an impactful defender, but his effort and focus on that end have been unpredictable at best.
—William Guillory, New York Times, 27 May 2026
There were flashes, but the 21-year-old center needs to show more consistency in 2026-27.
—Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2026
The flashes sideways did a lot of the work of the characters' resolutions, too.
—Julie Tremaine, PEOPLE, 23 May 2026
The only symptoms that have been proven to be associated with menopause are vasomotor symptoms, which are the hot flashes and night sweats and vaginal dryness.
—Torie Bosch, STAT, 23 May 2026
ABC News, 20 May 2026
The device turns its head from side to side, flashes red LED eyes, while its tail is equipped with blue LEDs.
—CBS News, 13 May 2026
Janet Jackson flashes a smile onstage as her 1989 album Rhythm Nation 1814 is inducted at the 2026 Grammy Hall of Fame ceremony in Los Angeles on May 8.
—People Staff, PEOPLE, 12 May 2026
Opening with the lead character found dead in a ditch, the film flashes backward to piece together her life from the memories of others, creating a fragmented portrait of an enigmatic young woman’s life.
—Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2026
The ‘Buffett Indicator’ flashes red The S&P 500 has rebounded to a near all-time record of 7165 since the Iran war sparked a selloff.
—Diane Brady, Fortune, 27 Apr. 2026
Fields flashes both build-up speed and short-area juice, along with a go-and-get-it gear when the ball is in the air.
—Dan Duggan, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
When the movie flashes forward to 1968, Michael should have a baby sister named Janet.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 25 Apr. 2026
His yearning for Ruben’s approval and fear of his own desires are so acute that, when the show flashes forward to Niall’s wedding again, one half expects to see a woman waiting at the altar.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 24 Apr. 2026
Noun
There have been flashes, but the offense needs Pasquantino and Perez to play up to expectations day in and day out.
—Jaylon Thompson
may 30, Kansas City Star, 30 May 2026
As Wiley entered menopause and experienced the hot flashes, hair-thinning, and other physical symptoms that come with it, her straightening treatment—once a moment for pampering—became an exhausting chore.
—Annie Blay-Tettey, Allure, 29 May 2026
The Hurricanes have shown flashes this season of being a team capable of making a deep postseason run.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 28 May 2026
The mostly monochromatic palette, punctuated with flashes of blood red and cobalt, lends the whole place a cinematic quality, like something from a Paolo Sorrentino film, rather than your standard five-star interior.
—Jamie Timson, TheWeek, 27 May 2026
Williamson has shown flashes of being an impactful defender, but his effort and focus on that end have been unpredictable at best.
—William Guillory, New York Times, 27 May 2026
There were flashes, but the 21-year-old center needs to show more consistency in 2026-27.
—Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2026
The flashes sideways did a lot of the work of the characters' resolutions, too.
—Julie Tremaine, PEOPLE, 23 May 2026
The only symptoms that have been proven to be associated with menopause are vasomotor symptoms, which are the hot flashes and night sweats and vaginal dryness.
—Torie Bosch, STAT, 23 May 2026
Verb
In the same photo used year after year, Galizia wears a clerical collar and flashes an enigmatic smile worthy of the Mona Lisa against the granite wall of a church in his native Palermo.
—ABC News, 20 May 2026
The device turns its head from side to side, flashes red LED eyes, while its tail is equipped with blue LEDs.
—CBS News, 13 May 2026
Janet Jackson flashes a smile onstage as her 1989 album Rhythm Nation 1814 is inducted at the 2026 Grammy Hall of Fame ceremony in Los Angeles on May 8.
—People Staff, PEOPLE, 12 May 2026
Opening with the lead character found dead in a ditch, the film flashes backward to piece together her life from the memories of others, creating a fragmented portrait of an enigmatic young woman’s life.
—Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2026
The ‘Buffett Indicator’ flashes red The S&P 500 has rebounded to a near all-time record of 7165 since the Iran war sparked a selloff.
—Diane Brady, Fortune, 27 Apr. 2026
Fields flashes both build-up speed and short-area juice, along with a go-and-get-it gear when the ball is in the air.
—Dan Duggan, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
When the movie flashes forward to 1968, Michael should have a baby sister named Janet.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 25 Apr. 2026
His yearning for Ruben’s approval and fear of his own desires are so acute that, when the show flashes forward to Niall’s wedding again, one half expects to see a woman waiting at the altar.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 24 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flashes
Noun
-
There are slalom runs, all acute angles and twisted ankles, and there are direct bursts.—
Jack Lang,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
-
As such, their predatory behavior favors patience and short bursts of efficiency over endurance.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
SpaceX’s Elon Musk, who’s had his own share of rocket explosions, offered his condolences.—
Marcia Dunn,
Fortune,
29 May 2026
-
Musk, who has dealt with his own spacecraft explosions, sympathized with Blue Origin's setback.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
With most of the Valkyries players having played heavy minutes overseas for the past few seasons, Jocytė’s talent isn’t surprising to her new teammates.—
Nathan Canilao,
Mercury News,
26 May 2026
-
Chauvin pinned Floyd to the ground with his knee on his neck for around nine minutes.—
Louis Casiano,
FOXNews.com,
26 May 2026
Noun
-
Her work explores healing from childhood trauma, perfectionism, motherhood, and the quiet synchronistic winks that guide us to the miracles awaiting us.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 May 2026
-
Within a century, she’d been credited with miracles.—
Franklin Leonard,
Vanity Fair,
14 May 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
-
Page 11 displays one of the S-1 chief set-pieces, a chart showing the total addressable markets for each of its three segments.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
23 May 2026
-
Approaching the audience gathered there, the bus passed Broad Street, which displays a Birmingham Wall of Stars plaque for the 1982 team.—
Eduardo Tansley,
New York Times,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
The World Health Organization announces the first recovery of a patient confirmed to have been infected with Ebola during the ongoing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.—
Mary Whitfill Roeloffs,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
-
April 2016 -- The Securities and Exchange Commission announces federal fraud charges against Paxton, stemming from the Servergy investigation.—
Bill Hutchinson,
ABC News,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
Snow flurries began at that elevation on Wednesday.—
Rick Hurd,
Mercury News,
28 May 2026
-
The latest flurries that dusted parts of the Sierra Nevada this week are unlikely to do much to ease California’s snow drought.—
Chaewon Chung,
Sacbee.com,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flashes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flashes. Accessed 1 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
