as in flaring
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as in darting
to make an irregular series of quick, sudden movements
a dragonfly flickering above the salt marsh
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Recent Examples of flickering
Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
But there’s more flickering contrast in Narayan van Maele’s lensing, which alternates dun realism with occasionally hyperreal lighting and composition, particularly when the pagan promise of fire is in the frame.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 25 Mar. 2022
Keith Cooper, Space.com, 9 Apr. 2026
Meis moves from the Baroque virtuosity of Rubens’s study of a drunken mythological figure, through the jagged modernist puzzle of Marc’s allegorical animals, to Mitchell’s painterly abstractions and their flickering landscape allusions.
—Jed Perl, The New York Review of Books, 4 Apr. 2026
For years, my bedroom TV was a heavy, buzzing relic from my college days that required a specific magic tap on the side just to stop the screen from flickering.
—Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 31 Mar. 2026
That's partly because of the striking all-hard-sided aluminum build, partly because of the Dickinson mini-fireplace flickering away inside, and partly because of the cozy, rustic layout Kimbo has managed to carve out of a tiny space.
—New Atlas, 26 Mar. 2026
If the power comes flickering on for a few precious hours in the middle of the night, that’s when Cubans now rise to wearily cook and iron clothes.
—Patrick Oppmann, CNN Money, 7 Mar. 2026
Three cars back, Borsutzki tracked the woman’s path, the woman flickering in and out of view between the trunks and branches of the hardwood trees.
—Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 28 Feb. 2026
But public resistance to the Islamic Republic is still flickering on Iranian college campuses.
—ABC News, 27 Feb. 2026
Taper candles can add interest to a dining table, and votives can create flickering light on a patio.
—Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 14 Feb. 2026
Adjective
This year, the rumors swirl, a constant, low hum: Outer Heaven and Cuatro Gato, two more flickering lights, are expected to fade.
—Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
But there’s more flickering contrast in Narayan van Maele’s lensing, which alternates dun realism with occasionally hyperreal lighting and composition, particularly when the pagan promise of fire is in the frame.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 25 Mar. 2022
Verb
During this stage of the descent, Orion will be engulfed in a fireball, flickering plasma igniting outside the window hatches.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 9 Apr. 2026
Meis moves from the Baroque virtuosity of Rubens’s study of a drunken mythological figure, through the jagged modernist puzzle of Marc’s allegorical animals, to Mitchell’s painterly abstractions and their flickering landscape allusions.
—Jed Perl, The New York Review of Books, 4 Apr. 2026
For years, my bedroom TV was a heavy, buzzing relic from my college days that required a specific magic tap on the side just to stop the screen from flickering.
—Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 31 Mar. 2026
That's partly because of the striking all-hard-sided aluminum build, partly because of the Dickinson mini-fireplace flickering away inside, and partly because of the cozy, rustic layout Kimbo has managed to carve out of a tiny space.
—New Atlas, 26 Mar. 2026
If the power comes flickering on for a few precious hours in the middle of the night, that’s when Cubans now rise to wearily cook and iron clothes.
—Patrick Oppmann, CNN Money, 7 Mar. 2026
Three cars back, Borsutzki tracked the woman’s path, the woman flickering in and out of view between the trunks and branches of the hardwood trees.
—Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 28 Feb. 2026
But public resistance to the Islamic Republic is still flickering on Iranian college campuses.
—ABC News, 27 Feb. 2026
Taper candles can add interest to a dining table, and votives can create flickering light on a patio.
—Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 14 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flickering
Adjective
-
Red dwarfs are also prone to violently flaring and the outpouring of radiation from them can strip an atmosphere clean off a planet.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
8 Oct. 2025
-
After the orchestra launches in with a full flaring sound, the cello takes the lead on a sweet, almost pensive solo.—
Sheila Regan,
Twin Cities,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The confused drivers darting across three lanes to an exit that was there last month, but has now vanished.—
Andres Viglucci,
Miami Herald,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Guards will keep an eye on the ocean creature and in the event of aggressive behavior, such as a shark darting at surfers or swimmers, will implement a temporary beach closure.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The photos reveal Earth behind the Orion spacecraft, our home planet aglow with aurora.—
Marlene Lenthang,
NBC news,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Mustaine says, his words aglow.—
Jon Wiederhorn,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Blake Lively, Leighton Meester, and Chace Crawford catapulted to fame playing the scheming social butterflies flitting around Gossip Girl's Upper East Side.—
Rachel DeSantis,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Apr. 2026
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Spring's warmth is settling in across southern Michigan, and hummingbirds will soon be flitting about the state.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Casting two of the most smoldering contemporary actors on the planet clearly stacks the deck, and carries on the long tradition of pairing a dashing figure of brooding handsomeness (Laurence Olivier, Ralph Fiennes) with a breathless screen beauty (Merle Oberon, Juliette Binoche).—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Video from the scene hours after the fire first erupted showed ash fluttering through the air and burned paper in the yards of homes across the street from the warehouse.—
Joy Benedict,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
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October marks the start of butterfly season, with vibrant swarms fluttering well into the green season.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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At this point, my relationship with glowing rectangles is stronger than most of my Hinge dates.—
Juhi Wadia,
PC Magazine,
2 Apr. 2026
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The glowing hose creates a visible path that helps rescuers navigate thick smoke and find their way back to safety.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Morrissey, who was dancing dangerously on the blue line from his first shift of the game — and who scored the goal that broke the deadlock in Winnipeg’s favour — singlehandedly redefined Winnipeg’s margin for error in the first period against the Blues.—
Murat Ates,
New York Times,
10 Apr. 2026
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There was that incredible band that was playing above and then walked down, and then everyone started dancing.—
Ashlyn Robinette,
PEOPLE,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flickering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flickering. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
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