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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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

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 This team shows some really good flashes of doing a lot of good things. — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 11 Oct. 2026 One of the more exciting reveals was footage of the Artemis II team telling the ground team back in Houston about its observation of impact flashes. — Terrence O'Brien, The Verge, 11 Oct. 2026 There were flashes during his rookie year — an interception against the Dallas Cowboys and a beautiful pass breakup against All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce. — Sam Jane, Denver Post, 10 Oct. 2026 As time runs out, the winning bidder’s name flashes on the screen. — Queenie Wong, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026 Discovering more of these extreme X-ray flashes could help astronomers determine how often magnetars are formed through these neutron star mergers, Passaleva said in the statement. — Robert Lea, Space.com, 9 Oct. 2026 Though Holmes remembers nothing, flashes of his razor-sharp skills of deduction begin to show. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2026 At a press conference yesterday NASA presented its preliminary findings, which touch on everything from the moon’s surprisingly colorful craters to a series of curious flashes that the astronauts spied in lunar shadows. — Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 8 Oct. 2026

Verb

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 Belafonte flashes his famous smile under his famous widow’s peak. — Joshua Jelly-Schapiro, Vanity Fair, 21 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for flashes

Noun

But more appealing to me were the smaller bursts of creativity.

— Tony Perrottet, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Nobody is more confident working with the Kings than Colter, whose swagger and comfort with bursts of goofiness are well-deployed, albeit with less emotional range in the early-going.

— Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of bursts

Noun

The shoot involved firing blanks and igniting explosions, theatrics that shocked the film’s residential neighbors and spurred concerns over public safety.

— ABC News, ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026
As the car drives on while dodging a series of explosions, a seemingly endless number of terrorists armed with automatic weapons shoot at it to no avail.

— Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of explosions

Noun

Still, the episode might’ve been better at a cable or streaming length, with 15-20 more minutes to play with.

— Noel Murray, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026
Drummond flirted with a preseason triple-double and posted eight points, nine rebounds, four assists and two steals in 20 minutes.

— Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 9 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

An online directory displays 179 organizational logos from participating groups worldwide.

— Asra Q. Nomani, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2026
Behind the bar, a towering concrete structure displays hundreds of spirits, creating an impressive backdrop for the bartenders at work.

— Alessia Armenise, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of displays

Verb

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
But Triage does have a moment in which an ember of the old cruel optimism flickers.

— Charles Finch, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of flickers

Verb

From its opening moments, Zoe Kazan’s epic, sprawling Netflix adaptation of John Steinbeck’s 1952 novel, East of Eden, announces that the monstrous Cathy Ames (played by Florence Pugh) is the true center of the story.

— Jasmine Vojdani, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2026
In the book, Ursula simply announces that Frank was found dead in a closet, which is a far less traumatic moment for Bela.

— William Earl, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026