as in darting
to make an irregular series of quick, sudden movements
the horse's tail flicked in restless irritation
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of flicking
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
The name Dekopin in Japanese refers to flicking someone on the forehead with a finger, typically as a lighthearted punishment or joke.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 24 Feb. 2026
In Japanese, the word refers to flicking someone on the forehead with a finger, typically as a lighthearted punishment or joke.
—Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 24 Feb. 2026
Just a bit self-conscious, and sometimes the hair flicking and all that.
—Alison Weinflash, Rolling Stone, 18 Feb. 2026
Alijah Arenas switched between his forehand shot and backhand, flicking the plastic ball over the net to his opponent, former NBA star Brandon Jennings.
—Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 20 Jan. 2026
While the horses were flicking sand like fireworks.
—Literary Hub, 15 Jan. 2026
In the example below, Matty Cash is pressed and goes long to Rogers, who, surrounded by three Tottenham players, deftly cushions the ball on his chest before flicking it back to John McGinn.
—Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
The reptile reacts to being picked up by flicking its meaty tail back and forth, whacking a few of the deputies.
—Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 5 Dec. 2025
ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026
The name Dekopin in Japanese refers to flicking someone on the forehead with a finger, typically as a lighthearted punishment or joke.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 24 Feb. 2026
In Japanese, the word refers to flicking someone on the forehead with a finger, typically as a lighthearted punishment or joke.
—Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 24 Feb. 2026
Just a bit self-conscious, and sometimes the hair flicking and all that.
—Alison Weinflash, Rolling Stone, 18 Feb. 2026
Alijah Arenas switched between his forehand shot and backhand, flicking the plastic ball over the net to his opponent, former NBA star Brandon Jennings.
—Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 20 Jan. 2026
While the horses were flicking sand like fireworks.
—Literary Hub, 15 Jan. 2026
In the example below, Matty Cash is pressed and goes long to Rogers, who, surrounded by three Tottenham players, deftly cushions the ball on his chest before flicking it back to John McGinn.
—Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
The reptile reacts to being picked up by flicking its meaty tail back and forth, whacking a few of the deputies.
—Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 5 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flicking
Verb
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As soon as the door opens, Sadie jumps up to greet Koch before darting off to grab a toy, bounding back toward Koch with her tail still wagging.—
Shafiq Najib,
ABC News,
13 Apr. 2026
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The confused drivers darting across three lanes to an exit that was there last month, but has now vanished.—
Andres Viglucci,
Miami Herald,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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This commentary was not from a wonkish TikToker nor a network pundit but from TMZ, the merciless purveyor of celebrity dirt, which published the images of Graham after a citizen vacationer noticed the senator flitting through the theme park and sent pictures.—
Paula Mejía,
New Yorker,
15 Apr. 2026
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Blake Lively, Leighton Meester, and Chace Crawford catapulted to fame playing the scheming social butterflies flitting around Gossip Girl's Upper East Side.—
Rachel DeSantis,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Kick your legs in small up-and-down fluttering motions while keeping your lower back flat and abs tight throughout.—
Jakob Roze,
Health,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Video from the scene hours after the fire first erupted showed ash fluttering through the air and burned paper in the yards of homes across the street from the warehouse.—
Joy Benedict,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Suddenly Bieber was dancing around, trading fun glances with his fellow-artists, finally gesturing toward the usually obvious fact that a concert might also be an uncomplicatedly good time.—
Vinson Cunningham,
New Yorker,
18 Apr. 2026
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Set the scene Arrive by car and enter the hotel’s main driveway to then be greeted by the resort’s grand Florentine Fountain with four sculpted water nymphs dancing around an octagonal pool, a visual amuse bouche to the opulence that awaits.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flicking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flicking. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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