as in darting
to make an irregular series of quick, sudden movements
the horse's tail flicked in restless irritation
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Recent Examples of flicking
While a wagging dog’s tail might indicate excitement or friendliness, a flicking cat’s tail can signal irritation.
—
Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Oct. 2025
Only the paintings bore witness to her intense, solitary writing sessions, conducted in the studio by night, Stein flicking the pages of her notebooks with hardly a pause, until dawn birdsong disturbed her concentration.
—Francesca Wade, Air Mail, 4 Oct. 2025
For the Taliban, the episode possibly carries the lesson that attempting to turn back time on a population that’s grown up with the internet is much harder than just flicking a switch.
—Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2025
Any dairy farmer can tell you that biting flies are a pestilent scourge for cattle herds, which is why one so often sees cows throwing their heads, stamping their feet, flicking their tails, and twitching their skin—desperately trying to shake off the nasty creatures.
—ArsTechnica, 18 Sep. 2025
Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Oct. 2025
Only the paintings bore witness to her intense, solitary writing sessions, conducted in the studio by night, Stein flicking the pages of her notebooks with hardly a pause, until dawn birdsong disturbed her concentration.
—Francesca Wade, Air Mail, 4 Oct. 2025
For the Taliban, the episode possibly carries the lesson that attempting to turn back time on a population that’s grown up with the internet is much harder than just flicking a switch.
—Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2025
Any dairy farmer can tell you that biting flies are a pestilent scourge for cattle herds, which is why one so often sees cows throwing their heads, stamping their feet, flicking their tails, and twitching their skin—desperately trying to shake off the nasty creatures.
—ArsTechnica, 18 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flicking
Verb
-
Mischief in the mind of Cole Martin, the defensive back, moonlighted as a magician and snatched the direct snap before darting through a crease and churning ahead for a trick of a first down.—
Ira Gorawara,
New York Times,
11 Oct. 2025
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Inevitably, someone ended up swinging a quilt around to mimic the great snake’s darting heads and churning coils.—
Seamus Sullivan
September 29,
Literary Hub,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The spaces are smaller, with lower benches, and the older players, flitting between dressing rooms for U14s and U12s, have had to take their belongings home each day rather than leave them in lockers due to the carousel of teams moving in and out.—
Laurie Whitwell,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
-
The episode ends with a haunting overhead shot of the yard dotted with frozen clusters of kids in gray jumpsuits and the frantic staff outfitted in bright orange, flitting among them.—
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The Chinese national flag fluttering with the Lujiazui Financial District in the background.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Longer pieces reached the tops of her cheekbones, fluttering out like wings.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
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That means the boot camp — led by vocal coaches, renowned producers, fitness trainers and star choreographers — will go beyond the fundamental basics of singing and dancing by including mental health care, physical wellness, media training and global studies.—
Griselda Flores,
Billboard,
10 Oct. 2025
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The video shows Gilbert and his mother Shirley Gilbert, a retired teacher and alumna of the district, dancing at 11 schools across the city as students from James Madison and Riverside high schools drum the catchy rhythm in the background.—
Kayla Huynh,
jsonline.com,
10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Flicking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flicking. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.
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