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
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
In the transcript, the astronauts describe watching for the flashes while lying awake in the spacecraft.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 22 May 2026
You’ll be thrown around in your seat, which moves in sync with the action, along with thumps in the back, splashes of water, blasts of air, smoke, and flashes of light.
—Benny Har-Even, Forbes.com, 21 May 2026
Anyone who scouted Williams at Georgia saw elite flashes from a prospect who was very raw (and hurt quite a bit).
—Nick Baumgardner, New York Times, 21 May 2026
Two powerful flashes of light, but what Whiton didn't know is that the lightning had blasted his bedroom to destruction.
—Tammy Mutasa, CBS News, 20 May 2026
The scene both underscores the character’s profound reserves of sadness in heartbreaking fashion, unfolding with eloquent flashes of wit.
—Tomris Laffly, Variety, 19 May 2026
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
To relay a sign, Marcello holds up his hand and flashes a sequence to the catcher with his fingers.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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
In the transcript, the astronauts describe watching for the flashes while lying awake in the spacecraft.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 22 May 2026
You’ll be thrown around in your seat, which moves in sync with the action, along with thumps in the back, splashes of water, blasts of air, smoke, and flashes of light.
—Benny Har-Even, Forbes.com, 21 May 2026
Anyone who scouted Williams at Georgia saw elite flashes from a prospect who was very raw (and hurt quite a bit).
—Nick Baumgardner, New York Times, 21 May 2026
Two powerful flashes of light, but what Whiton didn't know is that the lightning had blasted his bedroom to destruction.
—Tammy Mutasa, CBS News, 20 May 2026
The scene both underscores the character’s profound reserves of sadness in heartbreaking fashion, unfolding with eloquent flashes of wit.
—Tomris Laffly, Variety, 19 May 2026
Verb
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
To relay a sign, Marcello holds up his hand and flashes a sequence to the catcher with his fingers.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flashes
Noun
-
The discordant, Bernard Herrmann-esque bursts of María Portugal’s rich score ratchet up the suspense and foreboding.—
Sheri Linden,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2026
-
We were immediately greeted by a resplendence of wildflowers, including purple-pink woolly bluecurls, bright orange southern bush monkey flower, red bursts of cardinal catchfly and at least one Catalina Mariposa lily.—
Jaclyn Cosgrove,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
One person has died after a fire and two explosions Friday at a New York City shipyard, officials say.—
Michael R. Sisak,
Chicago Tribune,
23 May 2026
-
Underground explosions often are blamed on lack of ventilation equipment to clear gas that seeps from the coal bed.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
23 May 2026
Noun
-
Officers arrived at the scene four minutes later and found three adult men dead in front of the mosque, Wahl said.—
Tim Stelloh,
NBC news,
19 May 2026
-
The women’s games showed the ticker on average three of every four minutes.—
Luke Connors,
Washington Post,
19 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
-
Purpose dissolves into who owns it, who displays it, who claims authority over it.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 May 2026
-
Stanford’s Basic Income Lab provides a global map that displays 203 basic income experiment sites and is current through January 30, 2025, 50 of which were active and the rest completed.—
Carrie Brandon Elliot,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
At that point, a loud drum fill announces itself, snarling electric guitars kick in and McCartney’s trademark howls of old arrive in time for a fairly kick-ass chorus.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
23 May 2026
-
Featuring an impressive cast of unknowns and a fluid style that captures them with both lyricism and verisimilitude, this winner of the Cannes Critics’ Week Grand Prize announces the arrival of a formidable new talent.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
22 May 2026
Noun
-
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
-
As the rain and snow fall, flurries can melt, mix together and refreeze just before hitting the ground, according to Jackson Macfarlane, a meteorologist with the weather service’s Boise office.—
Hali Smith
April 14,
Idaho Statesman,
14 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flashes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flashes. Accessed 26 May. 2026.
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