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flutter 1 of 2

noun

Definition of flutternext
1
as in flurry
a sudden and usually temporary growth of activity the site saw a flutter of construction last month, but nothing's happening now

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in chance
chiefly British a risky undertaking most people regard the lottery as a harmless flutter

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

flutter

2 of 2

verb

ˈflə-tər How to pronounce flutter (audio)
1
as in to flit
to make an irregular series of quick, sudden movements a lonely butterfly fluttering across the lawn

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to flap
to move or cause to move with a striking motion fluttered my eyelashes as I struck up a conversation with the new guy at work

Synonyms & Similar 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 flutter
Noun
Its midi length suits a wide range of occasions, and its flutter-style cap sleeves and flared A-line skirt add eye-catching volume. — Aashna Gheewalla, PEOPLE, 22 June 2026 There’s even a flicker setting that emulates the dreamy flutter of a real flame. — Gear Team, Wired News, 16 June 2026
Verb
Yellow flags Nothing did more damage to UConn’s defense in Saturday’s opener than the little yellow flags that fluttered onto the field from the referees’ waistband. — Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 6 Sep. 2026 At Pismo State Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove, nature lovers can watch monarch butterflies flutter through the eucalyptus trees from November to February. — Sacbee.com, 30 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for flutter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flutter
  1. flurry
  2. chance
  3. flit
  4. flap
  5. burst
  6. gamble
  7. dart
  8. flicker
Noun
  • After a flurry of fall festival activity in Venice and Telluride, the curtain is coming down on another year at TIFF.
    — Marlow Stern, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026
  • But a flurry of new contracts in 2026 has two more coaches on par with Reid and another pair knocking at the door of $20 million, based on a half-dozen conversations with those familiar with NFL coaching contracts.
    — Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of flurry
Noun
  • Nevertheless, for homebuyers with thin credit histories, having an alternative credit score used could mean a greater chance of getting more favorable mortgage terms.
    — Sarah Agostino, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Connecting with family history For Kassidy Angelo, Gioia’s co-founder and managing director, La Sponda signifies not only a new frontier for the company but also a chance to revisit her family’s heritage.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of chance
Verb
  • Behold the plight of the Ryan Murphy character, cursed to behave nonsensically and flit wildly from plotline to plotline based on the writer’s whims.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2026
  • City juggled negotiations with Gakpo and Ndiaye in the past seven days, enabling them to flit between the two depending on who was most desired or, in the event, most realistic.
    — Tim Spiers, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of flit
Verb
  • That means the bird species flapping around in backyards today are effectively the only surviving dinosaurs.
    — Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Real manta rays propel themselves by rhythmically flapping and undulating their enormous pectoral fins.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of flap
Noun
  • Rollins made a fantastic outside cut and showed elite burst on the play.
    — Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Sep. 2026
  • The club music that accompanies Claire’s bodybuilder retinue is funny the first time; less so on subsequent bursts.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of burst
Noun
  • The gamble certainly has paid off — for himself and Notre Dame (2-0).
    — Curt Rallo, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2026
  • JSerra coach Hardy Nickerson opted to go for it on fourth down, and Cloutier rewarded his gamble, scoring on an 11-yard run.
    — Joel Beers, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of gamble
Verb
  • Thank you to the San Francisco Zoo for their expertise darting the lion and documenting the scene.
    — Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Boley made the correct read, pulled the ball and darted around the left edge after the Jayhawks lost contain.
    — Taylor Eldridge, Kansas City Star, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of dart
Noun
  • Piazza said she was forced to call a landscaper after the vines from next door grew around her power lines, causing her lights to flicker and her cable to go out.
    — Liz Crawford, CBS News, 15 Sep. 2026
  • The first flickers of life beamed images from the Bloomberg network of a New York building on fire.
    — Will Richmond, The Providence Journal, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of flicker

Browse Nearby Words

flutists
flutter
fluttered
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Cite this Entry

“Flutter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flutter. Accessed 22 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on flutter

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about flutter

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