flourish 1 of 2

flourish

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word flourish distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of flourish are brandish, swing, thrash, and wave. While all these words mean "to wield or cause to move to and fro or up and down," flourish suggests vigorous, ostentatious, graceful movement.

flourished the winning lottery ticket

When is it sensible to use brandish instead of flourish?

The meanings of brandish and flourish largely overlap; however, brandish implies threatening or menacing motion.

brandishing a knife

When could swing be used to replace flourish?

While the synonyms swing and flourish are close in meaning, swing implies regular or uniform movement.

swing the rope back and forth

When might thrash be a better fit than flourish?

The synonyms thrash and flourish are sometimes interchangeable, but thrash suggests vigorous, abrupt, violent movement.

an infant thrashing his arms about

When can wave be used instead of flourish?

While in some cases nearly identical to flourish, wave usually implies smooth or continuous motion.

waving the flag

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 flourish
Verb
Even when the fruiting bodies themselves disappear in a week or so, the mycelia underground flourish as long as there’s organic matter to feed on. Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 11 May 2025 Handmade traditions flourish along the salty shores of Cornwall, England. Rosecrans Baldwin, Travel + Leisure, 11 May 2025
Noun
Burden will help the passing game flourish but doesn’t match the Bears’ needs, so this pick shows Chicago clearly is trying to load up on offense under new coach Ben Johnson. Ben Standig, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025 Jordan—physically static, but vocally free—flourishes when performing this kind of soaring music, and, in Nellie’s numbers, McAlpine’s haunting, Joni Mitchell timbre drifts beautifully down around him, the only warmth in a landscape growing increasingly wet and cold. Helen Shaw, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for flourish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flourish
Verb
  • Apathy thrives in environments where people feel like their work doesn’t matter.
    Lindsay Kohler, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025
  • Childs and Scott recognize there’s a growth moment happening across Philly’s hospitality scene right now: How can high-end experiences thrive in a working-class city?
    Alisha Miranda, Bon Appetit Magazine, 16 May 2025
Verb
  • Both productions succeeded in repositioning Salome as a perverse instrument of justice.
    Alex Ross, New Yorker, 19 May 2025
  • Research from the American Medical Association found that nearly all doctors believe AI tools can only succeed if they're fully integrated with electronic health records.
    Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 May 2025
Noun
  • The resulting waves would be on the order of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami that killed more than 50,000 people.
    Elizabeth Weise, USA Today, 25 May 2025
  • The incidents come as part of what The Internet & Television Association, an industry lobbying group, said was a wave of vandalism to network infrastructure across the country.
    Maddie Carr, Kansas City Star, 24 May 2025
Noun
  • Her look consisted of a bubblegum pink tweed top with a sheer ruffle overlay detail.
    Starr Bowenbank, People.com, 17 May 2025
  • Instead of a voluminous train, the dress showcased a playful pink ruffle at the back.
    Martha Ross, Mercury News, 13 May 2025
Verb
  • Carrying the ball upfield is where Harrison has prospered in the current campaign.
    Beren Cross, New York Times, 15 May 2025
  • And it’s allowed cheating to prosper, in public, for profit.
    Derek Newton, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025
Noun
  • Read the full review. More of a shrug than a gut punch.
    The New York Times, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
  • These killings doubled as cover for war crimes and a brutal shrug: what else to do with those cast as human refuse?
    James Wood, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The designs also showcase myriad varieties of gold filigree, and many are inscribed with lines from Egyptian love poetry.
    Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 1 May 2025
  • But most of his filigree is sold from his studio and many are custom orders.
    Sandra Jordan, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Michaels arrived for two eight-hour sessions at the Matthews home in March.
    Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 25 May 2025
  • That means the earliest the Mission: Impossible sequel could arrive for digital purchase or rental is Monday, July 7, 2025.
    Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 25 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Flourish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flourish. Accessed 30 May. 2025.

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