flukes

plural of fluke
as in accidents
an unexpected benefit or advantage resulting from the uncertain course of events the discovery of oil on their property was just an amazing fluke

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 flukes These moments are not flukes either. Mark Carey, New York Times, 26 June 2026 Whale song, the splashing of flippers, the flashing of flukes. Julie Orringer, Travel + Leisure, 9 June 2026 That kind of overlap across two major rankings signals these aren’t flukes. Lauren Schuster, Sacbee.com, 20 Apr. 2026 From a human perspective, whales are born backwards, emerging flukes first. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 26 Mar. 2026 Who knew if these roles were flukes — one-offs, novelties — or if Jerry Adler would defy the odds stacked up against any actor, much less a sexagenarian new to the game, and continue to find work in his newfound profession. Howard Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 28 Aug. 2025 But by a series of flukes, Friedman never once auditioned for the CSO. Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flukes
Noun
  • But the incredible expense of maintaining these habitats — and a series of horrible accidents resulting in a few deaths — led to a pullback in federal funding for the undersea habitat industry.
    Alex Harris July 15, Miami Herald, 15 July 2026
  • Year in and year out, in incidents small and noticeably larger, refinery accidents enraged neighbors and attracted regulators.
    Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026
Noun
  • Tokyo — Japan may have its first ever female prime minister, but her government’s attempts to avoid a royal succession crisis are making the chances of a woman taking the imperial throne ever slimmer.
    Hanako Montgomery, CNN Money, 14 July 2026
  • Before Jagger’s trip to South Florida, the lifelong Arsenal fan was asked by UK’s The Sun about his country’s chances against Norway, led by team captain Erling Haaland.
    Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 14 July 2026
Noun
  • The Athletics’ injury luck may have just gotten even worse, as improbable as that may seem.
    Sean Campbell, Sacbee.com, 11 July 2026
  • For those looking to test their luck on the strip, or just get a little staycation in, use a 15% discount at any Caesars property in Las Vegas with promo code LOCAL.
    Paris Wilson, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Flukes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flukes. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

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