1
as in movies
a story told by means of a series of continuously projected pictures and a sound track
as a child, the future director would spend hours sitting in the theater, totally entranced by the flickers
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2
as in flurries
a sudden and usually temporary growth of activity
usually there's a flicker in car sales when the new models come out
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in hints
an almost imperceptible sign of something
there was a flicker of recognition in her eye when I mentioned his name, but she denied knowing him
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in flits
to make an irregular series of quick, sudden movements
a dragonfly flickering above the salt marsh
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of flickers
Luke Smith, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2026
The Bobcats showed flickers of promise, nearly defeating Troy and Georgia Southern in the regular season.
—Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 9 Mar. 2026
That accounts equally for Lily’s arch froideur and Diana’s enduring lack of self-worth, played by both actors with care and compassion, and contrasting flickers of vulnerability and resolve, respectively.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 5 Feb. 2026
The penalty kill has remained strong, and while the power play has shown flickers of improvement, Colorado has scored just one more goal than its allowed (3-2) while playing with the extra man in this stretch.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 18 Jan. 2026
My favorite albums reckoned deliberately with our existential moment, offering flickers of hope and grace under pressure.
—Jenn Pelly, Time, 4 Dec. 2025
Northern flickers and other woodpeckers are just some of the birds that are attracted to viburnums.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Nov. 2025
But things get weird when Kamala sees flickers of zombie faces in the crowd.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Sep. 2025
Light broke through the mountains in flickers, then vanished as the storm thickened.
—Hayleigh Evans, AZCentral.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Addie Citchens, New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2026
Curiosity flickers across his face when his submissive surprises him.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
As the camera pans out, the screen flickers, and House appears for a second.
—Barry Levitt, Time, 4 Feb. 2026
Those flickers or flashes were used to show intrusive thoughts or moments of wonder.
—Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 13 Jan. 2026
Private sector confidence flickers but has not fully ignited.
—Dewardric L. McNeal, CNBC, 31 Dec. 2025
When Verity isn’t with someone too young for him, the two are also occasional lovers, each aware of how their attachment flickers in and out based on neediness, resentment, and actual affection.
—Jasmine Vojdani, Vulture, 10 Dec. 2025
Yet the human heart, a product of that same universe, flickers with an unreasonable light.
—Literary Hub, 17 Nov. 2025
The deep green glass vessel, etched with vertical lines reminiscent of towering tree trunks, shifts from khaki to warm browns and golden yellows as the flame flickers, casting a hypnotic glow that’s as enchanting as its aroma.
—Michael Stefanov, Robb Report, 14 Oct. 2025
Noun
But most of all, Australia showed flickers of the joy that fueled Hamilton for so much of his F1 success in the past.
—Luke Smith, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2026
The Bobcats showed flickers of promise, nearly defeating Troy and Georgia Southern in the regular season.
—Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 9 Mar. 2026
That accounts equally for Lily’s arch froideur and Diana’s enduring lack of self-worth, played by both actors with care and compassion, and contrasting flickers of vulnerability and resolve, respectively.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 5 Feb. 2026
The penalty kill has remained strong, and while the power play has shown flickers of improvement, Colorado has scored just one more goal than its allowed (3-2) while playing with the extra man in this stretch.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 18 Jan. 2026
My favorite albums reckoned deliberately with our existential moment, offering flickers of hope and grace under pressure.
—Jenn Pelly, Time, 4 Dec. 2025
Northern flickers and other woodpeckers are just some of the birds that are attracted to viburnums.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Nov. 2025
But things get weird when Kamala sees flickers of zombie faces in the crowd.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Sep. 2025
Light broke through the mountains in flickers, then vanished as the storm thickened.
—Hayleigh Evans, AZCentral.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Verb
Tory’s expression flickers, then settles.
—Addie Citchens, New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2026
Curiosity flickers across his face when his submissive surprises him.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
As the camera pans out, the screen flickers, and House appears for a second.
—Barry Levitt, Time, 4 Feb. 2026
Those flickers or flashes were used to show intrusive thoughts or moments of wonder.
—Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 13 Jan. 2026
Private sector confidence flickers but has not fully ignited.
—Dewardric L. McNeal, CNBC, 31 Dec. 2025
When Verity isn’t with someone too young for him, the two are also occasional lovers, each aware of how their attachment flickers in and out based on neediness, resentment, and actual affection.
—Jasmine Vojdani, Vulture, 10 Dec. 2025
Yet the human heart, a product of that same universe, flickers with an unreasonable light.
—Literary Hub, 17 Nov. 2025
The deep green glass vessel, etched with vertical lines reminiscent of towering tree trunks, shifts from khaki to warm browns and golden yellows as the flame flickers, casting a hypnotic glow that’s as enchanting as its aroma.
—Michael Stefanov, Robb Report, 14 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flickers
Noun
-
Friendly aliens aren’t a new phenomenon in movies, but usually, those friendships develop on our home turf of Earth.—
Katie Walsh,
Boston Herald,
19 Mar. 2026
-
The pair also address Quentin Tarantino‘s recent claim on The Joe Rogan Experience that TV shows don’t stick with you the way movies do.—
Brian Hiatt,
Rolling Stone,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Weather services predict a possibility of flurries, but no matter.—
Jennifer Day,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Mar. 2026
-
The weather on Friday and Saturday is expected to be nice with temperatures reaching the 60s and 70s, while Sunday could bring rain and flurries of snow.—
Joseph Hernandez,
Kansas City Star,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The detection of these molecules in an asteroid hints that they can be formed without the presence of life, and may offer clues into how these compounds could be transported across the solar system.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Again, there were hints in the data but no definitive conclusions.—
Mariangela Lisanti,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
As the movie flits between these different storylines, time is reframed less as something to resist (or defy) than as something to embrace.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Identity takes the lead as the Moon flits into your sign, so your tone, pace, and choices are most likely to set the mood for everyone today.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
An indie actress to remember in films like Donnie Darko (2001), Adaptation (2002), and Crazy Heart (2009), Gyllenhaal made her directorial debut in 2021 with The Lost Daughter.—
Peter Tonguette,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Mar. 2026
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Paramount+ will bring global fans over 1,000 hours of iconic series, films, originals and cultural touchstones that reflect the full spectrum of the Black experience, including hits like THE MS.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
For a company built around celebration — Fourth of July backyard shows, wedding sendoffs and bursts of color in the sky — the routine has become an uneasy one.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Another displacement or weakening of the polar vortex is underway, which can allow bursts of Arctic air to spill into the Midwest and Northeast at times, according to AccuWeather lead long-range meteorologist Paul Pastelok.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The audience gets glimmers of Katie and Greg’s relationship, but the show is bogged down by dull characters like the policeman who seems to have it out for Greg, and even by its focus on Archie’s point of view, which is just a depiction of narcissism and a formulaic pseudo-midlife crisis.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
5 Mar. 2026
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The sun and light glimmers and shines off this material and the entire interior looks, and feels, slick like a black lacquer has been applied throughout.—
Joel Feder,
The Drive,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Cuba's President Miguel Diaz-Canel (center) flutters a Venezuelan and Cuban national flags in support of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro in Havana.—
Kiki Intarasuwan,
CBS News,
3 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flickers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flickers. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
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