flickered

verb

past tense of flicker
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 Flames flickered around chunks of pavement lining the crater as shocked residents looked on in horror. — David Fischer, Chicago Tribune, 2 Nov. 2026 Flames flickered around chunks of pavement lining the crater as residents looked on in horror. — David Fischer, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2026 Around dawn a fiber optic stand that flickered light was turned on and everyone gathered held a moment of silence in memories of Noel. — Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Oct. 2026 In Monday’s match against home player Sun Xinran, Gauff stopped a rally after electronic advertising boards lining the court flickered during a point late in the first set. — ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026 The shadows of the trees swaying in the breeze flickered across it. — Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026 The stadium lights flickered off, and both teams stood awkwardly as officials huddled at the 20-yard line. — David Ubben, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026 While lights flickered, music blared and fans cheered, the goal was ruled off; Harris was initially deemed offside. — Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 20 Aug. 2026 The noise came after the lights at her grandmother's house flickered three times, and then shut off completely. — Lauren Victory, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flickered
  1. darted
  2. flitted
  3. fluttered
  4. flicked
  5. danced
Verb
  • Top stories The battle between Bass and Raman Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and her challenger, Councilmember Nithya Raman, darted across the city over the weekend, foraging for votes as the clock ticks down before Tuesday’s election.
    — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The shark darted away from the surfers, disappearing into the white water as another man almost surfed over it.
    — Stephanie Zappelli, Sacbee.com, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of darted
Verb
  • Those yellow jackets flitted around the room like bees before the event, mingling with fundraiser attendees and big-name actors, explaining what, exactly, City Year does.
    — Laura Zornosa, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026
  • The ends flitted out and folded centimeters above her brows, blending between the relaxed waves that moved over her shoulders.
    — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of flitted
Verb
  • Jackson threw a lateral to wide receiver Tucker Cusano, who was supposed to throw downfield, but the ball appeared to slip out of his hand and fluttered into the air.
    — Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 1 Nov. 2026
  • Yellow caution tape fluttered in the wind as water poured into a room strewn with wooden debris, an upturned refrigerator and a television.
    — Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of fluttered
Verb
  • As the husband watched, Superman finished his cigarette and flicked the gleaming butt away.
    — Téa Obreht, New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2026
  • Suarez fought off an Atlanta defender to reach the ball in the box and flicked a lofted cross toward Berterame.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of flicked
Verb
  • As the Seminole band played the alma mater song, Calhoun jumped up on the band director podium and danced to the music of the Pride of the Tribe band with Hampton.
    — Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 Oct. 2026
  • In Chmerkovskiy’s absence last week, Dewan danced with fellow pro Alan Bersten instead.
    — Leigh Blickley, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of danced

Browse Nearby Words

flicker
flickered
flickering
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Flickered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flickered. Accessed 11 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of valorous

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

31 Useful Rhetorical Devices

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
woman sitting on floor holding book in front of her face on pink background
Famous Novels, Last Lines Quiz Needless to say, spoiler alert.
See All