1
as in hovers
to move through the air with or as if with outstretched wings
the Wright brothers realized mankind's age-old wish to fly
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in escapes
to get free from a dangerous or confining situation
you must fly to safety immediately
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in scurries
to proceed or move quickly
flew down the concourse to catch his flight
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in flees
to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening
no one in the movies ever thinks to fly from the ax murderer and immediately call the police
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in disappears
to cease to be visible
the morning mist had flown, and a sparkling sea lay before us
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in passes
to withstand scrutiny and gain acceptance or approval
the familiar "Because I said so!" is a reason that won't fly with most teenagers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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show current usage.
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Recent Examples of flies
Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Oct. 2025
That said, both Painter and Brown said the airport video likely flies in the face of appropriations law.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 14 Oct. 2025
American Airlines still flies a limited number of international and transcontinental routes with a dedicated first-class cabin, over and above their lie-flat business-class seats, but the airline plans to phase those out in the near future.
—Zach Wichter, USA Today, 11 Oct. 2025
The 12 x 25 flag flies on a 40-foot-tall pole.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2025
The evil White Vision regains all of his previous memories and flies off by himself.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 11 Oct. 2025
But the education department leader told ABC News that the latest RIF flies in the face of McMahon's pledges.
—Arthur Jones Ii, ABC News, 11 Oct. 2025
Filth Flies Little filth flies such as drain flies breed in sludge and decaying matter that can build up in drain pipes, says Oi.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 10 Oct. 2025
The ink is also a nod to Depp's character Captain Jack Sparrow, who sported an almost identical tattoo in Pirates of the Caribbean — though the on-screen one flies away from the body, while the actor's real-life ink flies towards his.
—Grace Gavilanes, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025
Noun
The film, which is a sequel to the classic 1990 Christmas movie, follows the young and spirited Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin), who mistakenly gets on a plane headed for New York City while the rest of the family flies to Florida.
—Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Oct. 2025
That said, both Painter and Brown said the airport video likely flies in the face of appropriations law.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 14 Oct. 2025
American Airlines still flies a limited number of international and transcontinental routes with a dedicated first-class cabin, over and above their lie-flat business-class seats, but the airline plans to phase those out in the near future.
—Zach Wichter, USA Today, 11 Oct. 2025
The 12 x 25 flag flies on a 40-foot-tall pole.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2025
The evil White Vision regains all of his previous memories and flies off by himself.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 11 Oct. 2025
But the education department leader told ABC News that the latest RIF flies in the face of McMahon's pledges.
—Arthur Jones Ii, ABC News, 11 Oct. 2025
Filth Flies Little filth flies such as drain flies breed in sludge and decaying matter that can build up in drain pipes, says Oi.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 10 Oct. 2025
The ink is also a nod to Depp's character Captain Jack Sparrow, who sported an almost identical tattoo in Pirates of the Caribbean — though the on-screen one flies away from the body, while the actor's real-life ink flies towards his.
—Grace Gavilanes, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flies
Verb
-
At the end of 2024, the agency employed roughly 100,000 workers — and currently hovers around 75,000.—
Jessica Coacci,
Fortune,
8 Oct. 2025
-
One of the most important phenomena in high-altitude Sonoma vineyards is the inversion layer, the blanket of fog that hovers between 800 and 1,800 feet throughout many mornings of the growing season.—
Mike DeSimone,
Robb Report,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Meanwhile, Lo escapes the storage room and tries to find her way off the yacht undetected.—
Keith Langston,
PEOPLE,
11 Oct. 2025
-
Lo escapes by jumping off the boat and swimming to shore.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The older dog is shown marching along, while the puppy scurries along, attempting to match its pace.—
Soo Kim,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Sep. 2025
-
In some versions of the tale, the wolf scurries off to the forest while the three pigs live happily ever after in humble homesteads of their choice.—
Julie Gallant,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Players take on the role of Enzo Favaro, a miner who survives a tunnel collapse and flees the pit after insubordinately attacking a cruel underboss.—
Gieson Cacho,
Mercury News,
15 Oct. 2025
-
Blazy gives Odhiang a deep hug, jogs around the runway, and flees toward the exit, smiling.—
Nathan Heller,
Vogue,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Based on Andrea Mara’s novel of the same name, the story follows a mother whose life unravels when her young son disappears.—
Giana Levy,
Variety,
10 Oct. 2025
-
Many Black mothers are primary breadwinners; when their income disappears, households wobble.—
Essence,
Essence,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The shutdown will end when Congress passes and Trump signs an appropriations bill to fund the federal departments and agencies currently shut down.—
Maia Pandey,
jsonline.com,
14 Oct. 2025
-
This would happen when the light of distant stars passes through the elusive matter.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The digital screens owned by LAN are designated for static content that supports wayfinding, provides essential travel information and promotes LAN’s revenue-generating services.—
Dan Basso,
Freep.com,
15 Oct. 2025
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Avoiding screens before bedtime can make a real difference, since the light from phones, tablets and TVs can delay the body’s natural release of melatonin.—
Faye Chiu,
CNN Money,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Traditional bulb spacing leaves gaps in the garden while the plants slowly grow in, bloom, and then decline.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
13 Oct. 2025
-
This leaves a big hole in the Sabres’ lineup.—
Matthew Fairburn,
New York Times,
12 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Flies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flies. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.
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