flounce 1 of 2

noun

Definition of flouncenext
as in edging
a strip of fabric gathered or pleated on one edge and used as trimming a prom dress with small flounces along the hem

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

flounce

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to prance

Related Words
2
as in to fringe

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of flounce
Noun
Prone to wearing clothes that suggest an overgrown pre-teen herself, all frills, flounces and bright colors, Martha doesn’t look like great maternal material to Claire, although this judgmental attitude may be evidence of her own maternal deficiencies. — Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 24 May 2026 The size of the flounce can also dictate the messaging. — Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 28 Feb. 2026
Verb
The cowl neck and flounce hem offer a drapey, effortless look, and the straps are adjustable to get a comfortable neckline fit. — Anna Popp, Travel + Leisure, 15 Sep. 2025 Floating around London’s Chelsea Flower Show as dusk is about to fall, the air is thick, the herbal scents of salvia and geranium offset by the minty nepeta and the flouncing citrus sucker punch of verbana. — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 5 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for flounce
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flounce
  1. edging
  2. prance
  3. fringe
  4. ruffle
  5. stalk
  6. ribbon
  7. border
  8. mince
Noun
  • Elastic edging keeps the machine-washable covers snug across a range of couch shapes, and the collection comes in several colors, weaves and textures to coordinate with most rooms.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Blythe Copeland, writing for Martha Stewart, highlighted Nolan Interiors’ approach of sizing covers to individual seat, back or chaise cushions with elastic edging.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of edging
Verb
  • The steady hum of activity hits a particularly resonant pitch on the Second Sunday of each month when the street closes to vehicular traffic and becomes a European-style pedestrian mall with outdoor eateries and prancing pets on leash.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Iggy Pop, still prancing, howling and whooping with his chest exposed and jeans sliding down his waist, claims the title of the festival’s leading elder statesman.
    — Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of prance
Verb
  • In addition to the pool at the spa, the hotel has a main pool area fringed with palm trees, with sunken loungers in the shallows and Nile views at every turn.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Reefs fringe much of the isle, and some of the best snorkeling can be found right off the beach.
    — Sarah Bruning, Travel + Leisure, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of fringe
Noun
  • Related Articles The dress was designed with a flowing sensibility in mind, featuring the Victorian design element of a high collar contrasted by fluttering bohemian shift silhouette, long sleeves and plenty of ruffles on the bodice and skirt.
    — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 3 Nov. 2026
  • For the occasion, Klum opted for a gloriously theatrical, tangerine-orange Lever Couture dress that featured sculptural, accordion-pleated ruffles that fell from mini-dress length to an arpeggiated train.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of ruffle
Verb
  • Quite the contrast with Carlos, who must stalk some potential trade through the streets at night, and with Sebastián, whose throat goes dry at the mere sight of Rafael’s bare chest.
    — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2026
  • That is what makes the stalking statute similar to the murder statute in terms of the evils or harms both are looking to prevent.
    — Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of stalk
Verb
  • The White House under President Biden used to complain when Republicans would go out to ribbon cuttings of projects that were funded by Biden's infrastructure law.
    — Dana Taylor, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Mesquite and acacia trees ribbon the lower elevations, while Douglas firs and ponderosa pine line the upper reaches.
    — Staff Author, Travel + Leisure, 1 May 2026
Definition of ribbon
Noun
  • In their letter, the bishops attempted to balance human dignity and a right for governments to humanely protect borders.
    — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Meanwhile, North Korea has been adding mines, barbed wire fences, tactical roads, anti-tank walls and other fortifications to what's already one of the world's most heavily armed borders.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of border
Verb
  • At this morning’s news conference, Hochul did not mince words.
    — New York Times, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2026
  • After allowing 271 passing yards to Auburn last week, the primary culprit in all 39 of the Tigers’ points, Florida defensive coordinator minced few words about what lies ahead if nothing changes.
    — Noah White, Miami Herald, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of mince

Browse Nearby Words

flotsam
flounce
flounced
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Theme music by Joshua Stamper ©2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP

Cite this Entry

“Flounce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flounce. Accessed 4 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of fulsome

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Old-Timey Vehicles

Ten More Words from Taylor Swift Songs

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
couple-laugh-cafe
Quiz: Foreign Phrases You Should Know Check out your bona fides and avoid any faux pas.
See All