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

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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

Jeon is marvelous in the role, allowing flashes of envy, resentment, and longing to surface beneath Mi-ok’s cheerful, accommodating manner without diminishing her warmth or loyalty. — Lisa Wong MacAbasco, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2026 Although the hockey mask never appears, Kane lovingly re-creates exact scenes from the original movie to offer flashes of eye candy to Jason fanatics. — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 23 Oct. 2026 Deep greens sit against warm ochre walls, punctuated by flashes of glossy, nail-varnish-red lacquer. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026 Vision’s life flashes before his eyes within his mind-mansion’s screening room, but Ultron redirects him toward WandaVision footage of Billy and Tommy to make Vision want to survive. — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2026 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 But when Cook finally got his turn in the 2024 season, the run game was mostly unproductive despite the flashes Cook showed during the offseason. — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 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 The front of the device houses a round passive infrared (PIR) motion sensor and a status LED that flashes white during pairing mode and blinks red during a factory reset. — John R. Delaney, PC Magazine, 19 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

That means far less rolling-shutter wobble, along with bursts of up to 20 frames per second (fps) for as many as 200 frames.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 26 Oct. 2026
Still, the episodes move along so fast and the bursts of talent emerge with enough frequency that Minimum Wage makes for an amusing, energetic, instantly disposable binge.

— Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of bursts

Noun

Some clips appeared to show massive explosions of villages in Lebanon, where Israeli destruction of civilian infrastructure has drawn condemnation from human rights groups as potential war crimes, which Netanyahu's government denies.

— Daniel Estrin, NPR, 28 Oct. 2026
An Associated Press reporter in the southern city of Aden witnessed explosions that shattered windows at the airport building and nearby homes after Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree urged everyone at the airport to evacuate.

— ABC News, ABC News, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of explosions

Noun

Roger McQueen scored his first NHL goal and Cutter Gauthier ended his nine-game drought with two goals for the Ducks, who led 3-1 in the first period before getting blitzed 6-0 by Buffalo over the next 35 minutes.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026
However, many members will complete a short set of exercises on the machines, then stay on the machine or bench while looking at their phones for long periods of time — often 10 minutes or more.

— Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of minutes

Noun

After all, the boy is from Lourdes, that land of miracles in the French Pyrenees, and spent a lot of time around pilgrims in search of healing.

— Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026
Even those who don’t believe in miracles must concede the improbability of such historic continuity.

— Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 8 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

Or to be up high and see that, down below, a town is just a grid spread out on a map and nothing more, a grid that flickers with lights that spark on as the darkness commences.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2026
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

Definition of flickers

Verb

The king announces that whoever can lift and string a sacred bow belonging to the Hindu deity Shiva may marry his daughter, Sita.

— Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026
That break doesn’t last long as next day Susie’s sister announces a last-minute Christmas wedding… and Susie convinces Alec to tag along.

— Rachel LaBonte, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2026