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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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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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
Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Sep. 2025
Foster’s tenure had flickers of momentum.
—Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2025
Light broke through the mountains in flickers, then vanished as the storm thickened.
—Hayleigh Evans, AZCentral.com, 28 Aug. 2025
An engine of sorts was gathering here, drawing calories closer to human settlements, energy that was dissipated in the flickers of flame and the fires of metabolism.
—Peter Brannen, Big Think, 28 Aug. 2025
Neil McRobert, Vulture, 16 Oct. 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
Over dinner, a broadcast flickers on the cabin’s dusty TV.
—Jp Mangalindan, Time, 28 Aug. 2025
The glowing phenomenon appears as rays, spirals and flickers that most commonly manifest in hues of red and green.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2025
Just this one pipe yielded the carcasses of hundreds of birds and animals, including kestrels, flickers, bluebirds, and fence lizards that had become trapped over a time period of 50 years.
—Grrlscientist, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2025
Once the sun goes down, the neon flickers on and music spills from open doorways.
—Roger Naylor, AZCentral.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Noun
But things get weird when Kamala sees flickers of zombie faces in the crowd.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Sep. 2025
Foster’s tenure had flickers of momentum.
—Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2025
Light broke through the mountains in flickers, then vanished as the storm thickened.
—Hayleigh Evans, AZCentral.com, 28 Aug. 2025
An engine of sorts was gathering here, drawing calories closer to human settlements, energy that was dissipated in the flickers of flame and the fires of metabolism.
—Peter Brannen, Big Think, 28 Aug. 2025
Verb
Her debut, Sayonara Bar, flickers around the characters frequenting a Japanese hostess lounge, while The Incarnations traces a single soul across a thousand years.
—Neil McRobert, Vulture, 16 Oct. 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
Over dinner, a broadcast flickers on the cabin’s dusty TV.
—Jp Mangalindan, Time, 28 Aug. 2025
The glowing phenomenon appears as rays, spirals and flickers that most commonly manifest in hues of red and green.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2025
Just this one pipe yielded the carcasses of hundreds of birds and animals, including kestrels, flickers, bluebirds, and fence lizards that had become trapped over a time period of 50 years.
—Grrlscientist, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2025
Once the sun goes down, the neon flickers on and music spills from open doorways.
—Roger Naylor, AZCentral.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flickers
Noun
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In books and movies, though, versions of amnesia lurk everywhere … Amnesiacs might not much exist, but amnesiac characters stumble everywhere through comic books, movies, and our dreams.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
24 Oct. 2025
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As Screen Rant reported in 2019, Carpenter and Hill originally planned the Halloween franchise films to be an anthology of standalone movies that took place on Halloween night, and the creators felt Michael's arc ended in Halloween II.—
Jessica Sager,
PEOPLE,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
As rain pattered against windows, and trees lining the streets swayed, flurries of urgent texts began ricocheting from one end of the neighborhood to the other, and panic set in as some residents put on their shoes and hurried out the door.—
Danya Gainor,
CNN Money,
24 Oct. 2025
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Mild with occasional snow flurries, but calm most of the week.—
Joe Edwards,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Ray Palmer is a lot of Brandon, some hints of Clark for sure.—
Charles Infosino,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
23 Oct. 2025
-
The scene illuminates the story’s preoccupation not with the post-#MeToo world but with performance, hints of which can be found throughout the film.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The episode’s first half feels like the work of a misguided pest, and Beto’s filmmaking, which flits between several different styles and cuts between multiple angles sometimes within the course of one interview segment, doesn’t help.—
Keith Phipps,
Vulture,
28 Aug. 2025
Noun
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But while a Halloween marathon is a seasonal must, trying to figure out how to watch all 13 films can feel as daunting as coming face-to-face with the Shape himself.—
Chris Snellgrove,
Entertainment Weekly,
25 Oct. 2025
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In a single term, the 39th president screened at least 400 films between this venue and Camp David, starting with All the President's Men — a movie about the Watergate scandal — soon after he was sworn in.—
Chloe Veltman,
NPR,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Remember to be patient as auroras may arrive in quiet bursts, glowing faintly before becoming vibrant waves of color.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
28 Oct. 2025
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This stick-slip behavior is explained by the elastic-rebound theory, which describes how strain builds gradually and is released in sudden bursts.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Well, that’s where the Golden State truly glimmers.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
24 Oct. 2025
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This year, Parents explores the various emotions that families experience during the holidays—and how to find the glimmers to infuse joy throughout the season.—
Parents Editors,
Parents,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
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In September 2025, Lupe shared another photo on Instagram of the two kissing outside of her husband's art show, as well as some flicks of the gallery itself.—
Emily Weaver,
PEOPLE,
23 Oct. 2025
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But horror flicks since 2001 have been revolutionary in their own way, using technology and modern issues to examine the darker sides of humanity.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
21 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Flickers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flickers. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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