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
The Americans were less cohesive without Pulisic in the second half, but Reyna still added the finishing touch by gliding into the box and toe-flicking home his first World Cup goal.
—
Greg Beacham, Chicago Tribune, 13 June 2026
Starting in place of Edin Dzeko (shoulder) and Haris Tabakovic (undisclosed), Lukic was in a ideal position to cap a set piece with captain Sead Kolasinac flicking along a header off Ivan Basic’s corner kick.
—John Wawrow, Hartford Courant, 12 June 2026
The teaser trailer shows a gang of cats hanging out on a rooftop, with one flicking its claws like a mobster would a knife.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 11 June 2026
Kamara found it a couple of hours before kick-off when flicking through a copy of the matchday programme.
—Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 23 May 2026
The dragons stalk the island, flicking their huge tongues in hopes of picking up the scent of a deer, wild boar, or water buffalo — the latter two species introduced by humans — or rodents and other smaller reptiles, including baby Komodo dragons.
—Craig Stanford, Big Think, 7 May 2026
This could be the bookworm equivalent of jet setting, perhaps—seeking out the places we’re taken to while flicking the pages.
—Connor Sturges, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Apr. 2026
Edmundson, who’d lost MacKinnon on his first goal, atoned by receiving Kempe’s pass in the high slot and flicking a shot that clipped Wedgewood on its way into the net.
—Andrew Knoll, Daily News, 26 Apr. 2026
Maza drew in Hamburg players before flicking the ball on for Kofane, who lashed it into the top-left corner.
—ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026
Greg Beacham, Chicago Tribune, 13 June 2026
Starting in place of Edin Dzeko (shoulder) and Haris Tabakovic (undisclosed), Lukic was in a ideal position to cap a set piece with captain Sead Kolasinac flicking along a header off Ivan Basic’s corner kick.
—John Wawrow, Hartford Courant, 12 June 2026
The teaser trailer shows a gang of cats hanging out on a rooftop, with one flicking its claws like a mobster would a knife.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 11 June 2026
Kamara found it a couple of hours before kick-off when flicking through a copy of the matchday programme.
—Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 23 May 2026
The dragons stalk the island, flicking their huge tongues in hopes of picking up the scent of a deer, wild boar, or water buffalo — the latter two species introduced by humans — or rodents and other smaller reptiles, including baby Komodo dragons.
—Craig Stanford, Big Think, 7 May 2026
This could be the bookworm equivalent of jet setting, perhaps—seeking out the places we’re taken to while flicking the pages.
—Connor Sturges, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Apr. 2026
Edmundson, who’d lost MacKinnon on his first goal, atoned by receiving Kempe’s pass in the high slot and flicking a shot that clipped Wedgewood on its way into the net.
—Andrew Knoll, Daily News, 26 Apr. 2026
Maza drew in Hamburg players before flicking the ball on for Kofane, who lashed it into the top-left corner.
—ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flicking
Verb
-
When New York last reached the NBA Finals in 1999, Brunson was just 3 years old, darting around locker rooms while his father, Rick Brunson, was a backup point guard for the Knicks.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
13 June 2026
-
Everyone else is darting glances back and forth between us.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
Early mornings at Mukwa are quiet, with mist rising off the river and birds flitting along the river bank.—
Sarah Kingdom,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
-
In the garden, bumblebees, hummingbirds, and butterflies can be found flitting among the dazzling blooms.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
In Second Nature, scientists theorize that Darwin couldn’t help but impose his own heterosexual ideations on animal reproduction, mainly that animals only copulate for the purposes of reproduction, with males being the aggressors and females fluttering their eyelids behind lace fans, or something.—
Rachel Brodsky,
Rolling Stone,
20 June 2026
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Twice during the game at the Lincoln Financial Field, the Brazil fans unfurled a fluttering banner celebrating five icons of five World Cup-winning teams; Didi, Garrincha, Pele, Romario and Ronaldo.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
20 June 2026
Verb
-
The pre-match party was packed with hundreds of people at the Discovery Center with Caribbean music, Haitian food and plenty of dancing.—
Dan Snyder,
CBS News,
19 June 2026
-
Season 5 opens with Roddy dancing through London.—
K.J. Yossman,
Variety,
19 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flicking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flicking. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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