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 travelling
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
Kate S. Petersen, USA TODAY, 13 Jan. 2025
Social media users have suggested the small flying objects were Skittles candy.
—Janelle Ash, Fox News, 1 Dec. 2024
Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 May 2025
And although recent issues, from fatal incidents to communications blackouts have raised questions for many about how safe flying is, the data shows that commercial aviation remains, hands down, the safest way to travel.
—Zach Wichter, USA Today, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for flying
Adjective
Our fact-check sources Chaos Factory (YouTube), Sept. 1, 2023, BREAKING: UFO's seen over South Florida today being followed by military attack helicopters
Business Insider, Feb. 12, 2023, The US has shot down 3 suspicious flying objects in 3 days.
—Kate S. Petersen, USA TODAY, 13 Jan. 2025
Social media users have suggested the small flying objects were Skittles candy.
—Janelle Ash, Fox News, 1 Dec. 2024
Noun
The dos and don'ts of flying can certainly be contentious, and while there are some things that many people can agree on, this issue just isn't one of them.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 May 2025
And although recent issues, from fatal incidents to communications blackouts have raised questions for many about how safe flying is, the data shows that commercial aviation remains, hands down, the safest way to travel.
—Zach Wichter, USA Today, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for flying
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flying
Adjective
-
Fanning out across downtown with no real destination is an L.A. tradition — what about joining the many immigrant rights groups who have set up rapid response networks to show up where la migra does?—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2025
-
In an era of such rapid and enormous change, the characteristics that defined an American, an American body, and, therefore, American citizenship itself were unstable and uncertain.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 June 2025
Noun
-
The man landed in California via a commercial flight and made contact with his legal team while waiting in line to go through U.S. Customs and Border Protection, said Trina Realmuto of the National Immigration Litigation Alliance.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
7 June 2025
-
On Friday, at least 14 commercial and charter flights were landing in Miami from Havana, according to flight information from the airport.—
Syra Ortiz Blanes,
Miami Herald,
7 June 2025
Verb
-
The chance for precipitation is hovering around 60% as of Saturday morning and rainfall amounts are expected to reach between a tenth and quarter of an inch, the forecast shows.—
Kendrick Calfee,
Kansas City Star,
22 Mar. 2025
-
To the north, Canada also slipped down the ladder but remains well ahead of the US, coming in at 18 after hovering around 15 for the last few years.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Reading can be a powerful way of escaping, relaxing and realizing truths about ourselves and the world.—
Kara Alaimo,
CNN,
24 Mar. 2025
-
Many of us dream of financial freedom, escaping the grind, and living in luxury.—
Kevin Sabet,
Newsweek,
24 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Global Refuge told Newsweek that it is encouraged by the White House's statement that no decision has been made, as revoking protections now would signal a concerning shift in America's commitment to those fleeing conflict.—
Tommy Tuberville,
Newsweek,
7 Mar. 2025
-
The New York Times reported that in Panama the first flights of these migrants included Christians fleeing persecution in Iran and Chinese nationals seeking asylum.—
Jack Herrera,
The New Yorker,
6 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The two 16-year-old girls who were lost overnight after disappearing while paddleboarding have been released from the hospital.—
Abigail Adams,
People.com,
21 Mar. 2025
-
While remote work isn’t disappearing, the era of full-time remote freedom may be ending for many workers.—
Jason Wingard,
Forbes,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
There have been many examples of that from our first edition up until today with global producers and DJs working with top headliners from Saudi, Egypt, Lebanon and rest of the Arab world.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
27 Dec. 2024
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Before coming to The Athletic, Weiss spent a decade working for the government, primarily as a compliance bank regulator.—
Jared Weiss,
The Athletic,
27 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
My Dien is a hurried cluster that has grown up ad hoc, with buildings of varying sizes rising like reeds from a fertile swamp.—
Damien Cave,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2025
-
This comes as the Trump administration has faced growing criticisms for its hurried proceedings to remove as many noncitizens from the country as quickly as possible.—
Alana Wise,
NPR,
26 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Flying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flying. Accessed 15 Jun. 2025.
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