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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of flickers
Michael Walker, New York Times, 29 May 2026
Then the northern flickers, which consume ants, can visit your lawn and find something to eat.
—Sheryl De Vore, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2026
The four crewmembers reported seeing several impact flashes — flickers of light created when a meteoroid hits the lunar surface and vaporizes.
—Leonard David, Space.com, 8 May 2026
Opt for bigger hanging bulbs, discrete flickers, or even hanging sheaths.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 3 Apr. 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
Walker Armstrong, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 June 2026
But in the final scene, when Sam goes to the bathroom to change the bandage on his forehead, the mirror flickers with static at his reflection.
—Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 23 May 2026
Instead, the planet's illuminated footprint now flickers in response to economics, technology, policy decisions and global crises — a constantly shifting portrait of human activity visible from space.
—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 20 May 2026
Even from the start, flickers of restiveness appear.
—Sophie Monks Kaufman, IndieWire, 20 May 2026
The two go to college together and then end up in the New York art world of the early ’90s, where their friendship flickers in and out despite the intensity of Ruth’s attachment.
—Emma Alpern, Vulture, 8 Apr. 2026
There, the experience flickers to life in the hotel’s moody, intimate Cafe La Vie on Tuesdays through Fridays.
—Dashae Engler, Midwest Living, 8 Apr. 2026
When the connection flickers back — sometimes for a mere 30 seconds — the conversations turn to life and death.
—Michal Ruprecht, CNN Money, 7 Apr. 2026
The Old Baths and Donkey Stand Remnants of Parkgate’s old resort life still flickers around the edges.
—Rob Crossan, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Mar. 2026
Noun
With interest in on-loan Lutsharel Geetruida, there were flickers of worry on Wearside about the core of the team being undermined.
—Michael Walker, New York Times, 29 May 2026
Then the northern flickers, which consume ants, can visit your lawn and find something to eat.
—Sheryl De Vore, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2026
The four crewmembers reported seeing several impact flashes — flickers of light created when a meteoroid hits the lunar surface and vaporizes.
—Leonard David, Space.com, 8 May 2026
Opt for bigger hanging bulbs, discrete flickers, or even hanging sheaths.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 3 Apr. 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
Verb
On another monitor, a dashboard that resembles the menu screen of a flight simulator flickers to life — only this is no simulation.
—Walker Armstrong, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 June 2026
But in the final scene, when Sam goes to the bathroom to change the bandage on his forehead, the mirror flickers with static at his reflection.
—Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 23 May 2026
Instead, the planet's illuminated footprint now flickers in response to economics, technology, policy decisions and global crises — a constantly shifting portrait of human activity visible from space.
—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 20 May 2026
Even from the start, flickers of restiveness appear.
—Sophie Monks Kaufman, IndieWire, 20 May 2026
The two go to college together and then end up in the New York art world of the early ’90s, where their friendship flickers in and out despite the intensity of Ruth’s attachment.
—Emma Alpern, Vulture, 8 Apr. 2026
There, the experience flickers to life in the hotel’s moody, intimate Cafe La Vie on Tuesdays through Fridays.
—Dashae Engler, Midwest Living, 8 Apr. 2026
When the connection flickers back — sometimes for a mere 30 seconds — the conversations turn to life and death.
—Michal Ruprecht, CNN Money, 7 Apr. 2026
The Old Baths and Donkey Stand Remnants of Parkgate’s old resort life still flickers around the edges.
—Rob Crossan, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flickers
Noun
-
For those who love movies, it's been a clear erosion over time.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
10 June 2026
-
The actor has previously starred in several movies and TV shows — including The Crow, Tom & Jerry, Heavyweight and This Town.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
The players rotated quickly, setting flurries of picks and cutting, creating space by driving to the basket, stretching the defense to the point of breaking, and then flinging the ball to the open man in the corner.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
7 June 2026
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The checkup came amid mounting scrutiny of the president's health, particularly given recent flurries of late-night social media posts, as well as his at-times tired demeanor during official meetings.—
Zachary Schermele,
USA Today,
30 May 2026
Noun
-
There are very few hints in art of dogs being dirty, vicious or rabid.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 June 2026
-
Katy Perry and Justin Trudeau may have been dropping wedding hints through their fashion choices at the Tribeca Film Festival.—
Karla Rodriguez,
Footwear News,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
Upstairs, a disco deep cut plays while Byrd flits about greeting everyone.—
Mike Albo,
Vulture,
2 June 2026
-
Their father, Nahuel (Amién), flits from one romantic affair to another, failing to recognize his shortcomings the way fathers typically forget minor yet significant details, like mistaking his younger daughter’s shoe size or never delivering on his promise to have the sink fixed.—
Lé Baltar,
IndieWire,
16 May 2026
Noun
-
Chinese audiences already enjoy many films with these elements.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
12 June 2026
-
Speaking of time, Keen formed Agenda following three decades of experience in the PR field working on campaigns for hundreds of high-profile films.—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
12 June 2026
Noun
-
Marketing gurus have spent decades on the art and science of distilling a brand message into super-short 15- or 30-second ad bursts.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
11 June 2026
-
Short bursts of work can keep productivity buzzing along.—
Aytekin Tank,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
The chance of advancing from the group phase isn’t far-fetched, with a diverse squad of new and seasoned players and recent results that offer glimmers of hope for a run in the tournament.—
Jim Sciutto,
CNN Money,
8 June 2026
-
At the outset this year, however, glimmers of hope appeared to emerge.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
Iran’s flag before the 1979 revolution — green, white and red with a lion and a rising sun — flutters from many overhangs.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
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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 13 Jun. 2026.
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