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
Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 2 Nov. 2025
Already one of the best perimeter defenders in the league, the 6-foot-7 swingman, still just 22, has exhibited flashes of potency on the other end of the court.
—Alex Kirschenbaum, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 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
The vials are then inspected using flashes of light, stamped, boxed up and shipped out via a warehouse.
—Janis MacKey Frayer, NBC news, 29 Oct. 2025
Villarroel and study co-author Stephen Bruehl, a professor of anesthesiology from the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, say their data show a statistical correlation between these flashes of light and reported sightings of unidentified objects.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 29 Oct. 2025
Meanwhile, flashes of lightning can be seen illuminating the structure at intervals, while rough ocean conditions below demonstrate the intensity of the Category 5 hurricane.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 28 Oct. 2025
The researchers then drew a statistical connection between the timing of the flashes with the dates of above-ground nuclear weapons tests and anecdotal reports of UFOs.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 28 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
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
Already one of the best perimeter defenders in the league, the 6-foot-7 swingman, still just 22, has exhibited flashes of potency on the other end of the court.
—Alex Kirschenbaum, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 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
The vials are then inspected using flashes of light, stamped, boxed up and shipped out via a warehouse.
—Janis MacKey Frayer, NBC news, 29 Oct. 2025
Villarroel and study co-author Stephen Bruehl, a professor of anesthesiology from the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, say their data show a statistical correlation between these flashes of light and reported sightings of unidentified objects.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 29 Oct. 2025
Meanwhile, flashes of lightning can be seen illuminating the structure at intervals, while rough ocean conditions below demonstrate the intensity of the Category 5 hurricane.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 28 Oct. 2025
The researchers then drew a statistical connection between the timing of the flashes with the dates of above-ground nuclear weapons tests and anecdotal reports of UFOs.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 28 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
-
Remember to be patient as auroras may arrive in quiet bursts, glowing faintly before becoming vibrant waves of color.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
28 Oct. 2025
-
This stick-slip behavior is explained by the elastic-rebound theory, which describes how strain builds gradually and is released in sudden bursts.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
These meteors are particularly known for being rich in fireballs, illuminating the sky with large explosions of light and color, and can produce about five meteors an hour at their peak.—
Maia Pandey,
jsonline.com,
3 Nov. 2025
-
It’s most often seen in people who play sports like football, hockey and soccer, but it’s also been detected in the brains of soldiers who have been injured in explosions and in some people who experienced domestic violence.—
Jen Christensen,
CNN Money,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Cabrales-Arzola ordered a ride-hailing service just 35 minutes after entering the apartment, but neither of the women left until Pearce carried them out the following afternoon and dropped them off at different hospitals.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Oct. 2025
-
One hour and forty minutes later the two leaders re-emerged and could be seen shaking hands at the conclusion of their talks.—
Betsy Klein,
CNN Money,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
But one might be forgiven for believing in the possibility of miracles.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
-
At its core was a conviction that the Holy Spirit moves through believers in supernatural ways — speaking in tongues, prophecy, divine healing and other miracles.—
Mike Hixenbaugh,
NBC news,
30 Oct. 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
-
One rendition of the story even displays a little sympathy for the devil, as Jennings shares.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Martell’s group was the first Western delegation in years to visit the International Friendship Exhibition, a sprawling mountainside museum that displays gifts and artifacts from foreign dignitaries.—
Will Ripley,
CNN Money,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Trump announces a second strike reportedly kills three people in the Caribbean.—
Anne Flaherty,
ABC News,
28 Oct. 2025
-
IndieWire announces these winners exclusively.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
As rain pattered against windows, and trees lining the streets swayed, flurries of urgent texts began ricocheting from one end of the neighborhood to the other, and panic set in as some residents put on their shoes and hurried out the door.—
Danya Gainor,
CNN Money,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Mild with occasional snow flurries, but calm most of the week.—
Joe Edwards,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Flashes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flashes. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
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