1
as in flurries
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 ventures
chiefly British
a risky undertaking
most people regard the lottery as a harmless flutter
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in flits
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 flaps
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 flutters
Sam Meredith, CNBC, 22 May 2026
As track one begins, a copy of the script flutters down from the ceiling.
—Theater Critic, San Francisco Chronicle, 29 Mar. 2026
The Cowboys have shown flutters of championship potential but have not made a conference final since 1996.
—Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Oct. 2025
In it, Mario snoozes against a tree as a butterfly flutters by his head.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 14 Sep. 2025
Right now, that home is with the Mahers at Somebody People, and wherever Monarch the pop-up flutters to next.
—Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 20 Aug. 2025
My heart flutters, excited to arrive, but also anxious about thirteen bodies cohabitating for six nights.
—Caitlin Gunther, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Sep. 2022
Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
Cuba's President Miguel Diaz-Canel (center) flutters a Venezuelan and Cuban national flags in support of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro in Havana.
—Kiki Intarasuwan, CBS News, 3 Jan. 2026
Noun
An Iranian flag flutters in the wind as ships remain anchored on May 16, 2026 in the Strait of Hormuz near Larak Island, Iran.
—Sam Meredith, CNBC, 22 May 2026
As track one begins, a copy of the script flutters down from the ceiling.
—Theater Critic, San Francisco Chronicle, 29 Mar. 2026
The Cowboys have shown flutters of championship potential but have not made a conference final since 1996.
—Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Oct. 2025
In it, Mario snoozes against a tree as a butterfly flutters by his head.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 14 Sep. 2025
Right now, that home is with the Mahers at Somebody People, and wherever Monarch the pop-up flutters to next.
—Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 20 Aug. 2025
My heart flutters, excited to arrive, but also anxious about thirteen bodies cohabitating for six nights.
—Caitlin Gunther, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Sep. 2022
Verb
Iran’s flag before the 1979 revolution — green, white and red with a lion and a rising sun — flutters from many overhangs.
—Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
Cuba's President Miguel Diaz-Canel (center) flutters a Venezuelan and Cuban national flags in support of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro in Havana.
—Kiki Intarasuwan, CBS News, 3 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flutters
Noun
-
The checkup came amid mounting scrutiny of the president's health, particularly given recent flurries of late-night social media posts, as well as his at-times tired demeanor during official meetings.—
Zachary Schermele,
USA Today,
30 May 2026
-
Snow flurries began at that elevation on Wednesday.—
Rick Hurd,
Mercury News,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
Mercury — now in Cancer and your eighth house of joint ventures and psychological motivations — will clash with Saturn, which could trigger serious conversations around dating, children or even financial entanglements.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
4 June 2026
-
Restrictions on presidents themselves are not expected to impact ventures like the Trumps’ World Liberty Financial.—
Eleanor Mueller,
semafor.com,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
Upstairs, a disco deep cut plays while Byrd flits about greeting everyone.—
Mike Albo,
Vulture,
2 June 2026
-
Their father, Nahuel (Amién), flits from one romantic affair to another, failing to recognize his shortcomings the way fathers typically forget minor yet significant details, like mistaking his younger daughter’s shoe size or never delivering on his promise to have the sink fixed.—
Lé Baltar,
IndieWire,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
The structure flaps its wings when powered by electricity.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Apr. 2026
-
View gallery - 7 images A wooden dragon sculpture that gently flaps its wings has become a crowd-funding hit, but after seeing the traditional handcrafted work that's been put into every single model, making each one unique, the value of such a piece becomes strikingly clear.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The device does not try to impress in short bursts.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
-
Most radio-producing objects release bursts that last for mere seconds or less, but long-period radio transients, about a dozen of which are known, produce radio waves in bursts lasting from minutes to over an hour.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
For the first four games, the extensive gambles taken by the front office — not just this season but for years — seemed to be paying off in a surprising 3-1 road trip.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
2 June 2026
-
Most of his big gambles, on things such as the MGM studio and library, which led to the creation of the Turner Classic Movies channel, paid off handsomely.—
Michael J. Socolow,
The Conversation,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
Club Kid runs right up to and then darts around so many potential cliches in a way that’s really satisfying.—
Rachel Handler,
Vulture,
26 May 2026
-
The striker is initially in a central area but then darts to the right side.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
With interest in on-loan Lutsharel Geetruida, there were flickers of worry on Wearside about the core of the team being undermined.—
Michael Walker,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
-
Then the northern flickers, which consume ants, can visit your lawn and find something to eat.—
Sheryl De Vore,
Chicago Tribune,
11 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flutters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flutters. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
