1
as in rushed
acting or done with excessive or careless speed
a flying attempt at finishing the work
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in rapid
moving, proceeding, or acting with great speed
that car was flying as it careened down the streets
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in flight
travel through the air by the use of wings
had never had the slightest fear of flying
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in hovering
to move through the air with or as if with outstretched wings
the Wright brothers realized mankind's age-old wish to fly
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in escaping
to get free from a dangerous or confining situation
you must fly to safety immediately
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in traveling
to proceed or move quickly
flew down the concourse to catch his flight
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in fleeing
to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening
no one in the movies ever thinks to fly from the ax murderer and immediately call the police
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in disappearing
to cease to be visible
the morning mist had flown, and a sparkling sea lay before us
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in working
to withstand scrutiny and gain acceptance or approval
the familiar "Because I said so!" is a reason that won't fly with most teenagers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of flying
Curtis Silver, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
The lower end of that spectrum (2,000 kelvins) will provide an orangey, amber light and attract the fewest flying insects.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 17 Apr. 2025
Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 18 Dec. 2025
After his racing days, Biffle used his flying skills for good.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 18 Dec. 2025
Susan Shelley, Oc Register, 7 Jan. 2026
If all goes to plan, by the early 2030s many—or even most—data centers will be flying overhead.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flying
Adjective
Only worth around $15 nowadays, but this card spawned so many anti-flying cards.
—Curtis Silver, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
The lower end of that spectrum (2,000 kelvins) will provide an orangey, amber light and attract the fewest flying insects.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 17 Apr. 2025
Noun
Biffle’s love of flying was never more under the spotlight — and necessary — than in the fall of 2024.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 18 Dec. 2025
After his racing days, Biffle used his flying skills for good.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 18 Dec. 2025
Verb
Who would have thought that giving away billions of dollars to people who self-certify facts on a form leads to tens of billions of dollars flying out the door to fraudsters who learn how to fill out the form?
—Susan Shelley, Oc Register, 7 Jan. 2026
If all goes to plan, by the early 2030s many—or even most—data centers will be flying overhead.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flying
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flying
Adjective
-
The rushed start wasn’t the only hiccup.—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
9 Dec. 2025
-
The national bill – passed on the final day of parliament last year – was criticized at the time as a rushed piece of legislation conceived to win votes before the 2025 election.—
Hilary Whiteman,
CNN Money,
29 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Earthquakes' sudden, rapid shaking can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Season One concludes with the Texas Tech geology graduate abandoning a well crew after tragedy strikes, only to achieve rapid success in his personal and work endeavors.—
Michael M. Rosen,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Ordinarily, such crew-rotation flights last about six months, ending a few days after their successors arrive at the ISS.—
Mike Wall,
Space.com,
15 Jan. 2026
-
Iran issued a notice, known as a NOTAM, on Wednesday closing its airspace to all flights except international civil arrivals and departures with prior permission from Iran's aviation authorities.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The vessel is capable of station keeping and hovering.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Half of Jewish Americans ages 18-34 believe Israel has committed genocide in Gaza; that percentage number is hovering in the 30s among older groups, according to a September 2025 poll by the Washington Post.—
Joseph Strauss,
Sun Sentinel,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Her grandfather, George Craig, had made his way there after escaping enslavement with the aid of John Brown, and was working as a barber in the town of Grinnell.—
Scott Simon,
NPR,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Regardless of our paths — whether that meant escaping war in Ethiopia or being the grandchildren of Holocaust survivors — many of us labor under the belief that this work requires us to commit to the ideals of this nation and not the indignation and nightmare of the insurrection.—
Sarah Ghermay,
Washington Post,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Thirasak Wongsoongnern, a member of staff on the train, told local media outlet Thairath Online, that the train had been traveling at around 74mph when the tragedy occurred, according to the BBC.—
Becca Longmire,
PEOPLE,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Vandenberg, 49, was planning on traveling from El Paso to San Diego to unleash harmful fireworks at a June 14 protest, prosecutors said.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The driver drove off with the passenger, fleeing the scene.—
Ross O'Keefe,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Jan. 2026
-
The driver drove off with the passenger, fleeing the scene, officials said.—
Alexandra Koch , Bill Melugin , Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The weapon then jammed and the attacker fled, running down the stairs, out onto the street, and disappearing into the dark.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Jan. 2026
-
As biodiversity declines and animal species go extinct, more mosquito food sources are disappearing.—
Tom Hawking,
Popular Science,
15 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flying. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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