as in darted
to make an irregular series of quick, sudden movements
a dragonfly flickering above the salt marsh
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 flickered
The lights inside Lynn Family Stadium flickered in celebration, as bells and cheers rang out.
—
Tamerra Griffin, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
Ten minutes later — now 200 feet deeper into the cave — Tim's light began to dim and then flickered out.
—Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
If the flame flickered or bent, air movement was present, indicating a draft.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Oct. 2025
This summer, Kwame Nkrumah’s transatlantic legacy flickered back into view when Zohran Mamdani won the Democratic primary in the New York City mayoral race.
—Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2025
Every time one of us said the girl’s name, the lights flickered.
—Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Oct. 2025
When stressed, the light flickered.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2025
Candles flickered against the sunset at Marine Park on Friday as local activists gathered for a vigil for the three victims of Wednesday’s shooting at a Dallas ICE facility.
—Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Sep. 2025
Even Seldon flickered between digital and physical selves, his split consciousness pushing conflicting agendas that unsettled the followers who depended on him.
—Jp Mangalindan, Time, 12 Sep. 2025
Tamerra Griffin, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
Ten minutes later — now 200 feet deeper into the cave — Tim's light began to dim and then flickered out.
—Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
If the flame flickered or bent, air movement was present, indicating a draft.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Oct. 2025
This summer, Kwame Nkrumah’s transatlantic legacy flickered back into view when Zohran Mamdani won the Democratic primary in the New York City mayoral race.
—Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2025
Every time one of us said the girl’s name, the lights flickered.
—Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Oct. 2025
When stressed, the light flickered.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2025
Candles flickered against the sunset at Marine Park on Friday as local activists gathered for a vigil for the three victims of Wednesday’s shooting at a Dallas ICE facility.
—Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Sep. 2025
Even Seldon flickered between digital and physical selves, his split consciousness pushing conflicting agendas that unsettled the followers who depended on him.
—Jp Mangalindan, Time, 12 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flickered
Verb
-
When Carrasco invited me into their backyard, which was lively with chickens and dogs, Ezra ran up, gave me a quick once-over, and then darted off to play on the swing set with his younger brother.—
Tom Bartlett,
The Atlantic,
19 Dec. 2025
-
Cavland Hunter darted in from the 2 and also ran in the conversion.—
Charles Baggarly & Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
18 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Sunlight flitted over the Pacific Ocean and into our bedroom.—
Joe Garcia,
New Yorker,
12 Oct. 2025
-
Bees and wasps flitted together on yellow flowers, and as the day wore on, gnats clumped in beams of sunshine to make a kind of haze.—
Blair Braverman,
Outside,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The president’s guests — which included top members of his administration, MAGA allies and big-time political donors — noshed on hors d’oeuvres and downed exotic cocktails while jazz music blared and burlesque dancers fluttered their fans.—
Garrett Haake,
NBC news,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Union Jack bunting fluttered overhead.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Instead of slamming it home, Antetokounmpo soared over the defenders to make an improbable catch, landed and flicked an on-target pass to Rollins for a corner 3 before falling out of bounds to give Milwaukee a 14-point lead.—
Eric Nehm,
New York Times,
8 Nov. 2025
-
After initially suspecting a bullet or debris flicked up by a truck, the police ruled out both.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
For three months and 32 shows, the then-13-year-old prodigy danced alongside her mom throughout the three-hour concert.—
Zoey Lyttle,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Consider Virginia McLaurin, who joyfully danced with the Obamas at age 106 and later supported youth mentoring, or Edith Renfrow Smith, now 110, whose advocacy for education continues to inspire.—
Norman B. Gildin,
Sun Sentinel,
6 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flickered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flickered. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share