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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in disappearing
to cease to be visible
the morning mist had flown, and a sparkling sea lay before us
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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
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Recent Examples of flying
Kate S. Petersen, USA TODAY, 13 Jan. 2025
Wonder plant and insect camera Bird Buddy is moving on to smaller flying creatures of the outdoors.
—Andrew Liszewski, The Verge, 7 Jan. 2025
Matthew Hutson, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2025
Turner will play Lara Croft, the fearless British archaeologist who’s always ready to swing into action with her iconic braid flying and dual pistols blazing.
—Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 6 Sep. 2025
Drake Bentley, jsonline.com, 23 Sep. 2025
The final result needed to be invisible, weightless, scentless, and makeup-gripping, all of which were achieved with flying colors—actually, with no color at all since the formula is completely clear on all skin tones.
—Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 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
Wonder plant and insect camera Bird Buddy is moving on to smaller flying creatures of the outdoors.
—Andrew Liszewski, The Verge, 7 Jan. 2025
Noun
People have seen weird stuff in the sky for thousands of years, and only in the last eighty have flying saucers been a popular interpretation.
—Matthew Hutson, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2025
Turner will play Lara Croft, the fearless British archaeologist who’s always ready to swing into action with her iconic braid flying and dual pistols blazing.
—Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 6 Sep. 2025
Verb
If there is time, secure loose objects outside as these objects often become dangerous flying debris in high winds.
—Drake Bentley, jsonline.com, 23 Sep. 2025
The final result needed to be invisible, weightless, scentless, and makeup-gripping, all of which were achieved with flying colors—actually, with no color at all since the formula is completely clear on all skin tones.
—Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flying
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flying
Adjective
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These alternatives can often provide a richer, less rushed experience than a whirlwind day trip to Paris.—
David Nikel,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
-
The Dolphins had two delay-of-game penalties and a rushed play during their unsuccessful final two drives against New England.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Industry leaders like Epic, Microsoft, Doximity, athenahealth and Oracle have been rolling out new capabilities at a rapid clip.—
Alexis Kayser,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Sep. 2025
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Bernardo lamented the success teams were having on the break against City after their defeat against Al Hilal in the Club World Cup in July, but City are giving teams a taste of their own medicine, with Haaland leading these rapid attacks.—
Jordan Campbell,
New York Times,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
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After all, the flight deck is where all the airplane controls are, and it’s typically locked when the airplane is in flight.—
Iona Brannon,
Travel + Leisure,
25 Sep. 2025
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But the Ariane 6 and the smaller Italian Vega C rocket aren't reusable like SpaceX's rockets, a design choice that has led to higher costs and a lower flight rate.—
Benj Edwards,
ArsTechnica,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
There was no personality cult hovering over the anonymous articles of the Soviet Constitution and the Code of Criminal Procedure.—
Benjamin Nathans
September 24,
Literary Hub,
24 Sep. 2025
-
One of the helicopters was on the landing pad with its rotors running when a crew member on a second helicopter that was hovering nearby at a low altitude noticed the man approaching the aircraft that was on the ground, according to court documents.—
Alex Riggins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Produced by Pallas Film and View Master Films, the movie follows a hen who, after escaping from a chicken farm, finds refuge in the courtyard of a crumbling restaurant.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Sep. 2025
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After escaping the vehicle, the driver died at the scene, according to the release.—
Sally Krutzig,
Idaho Statesman,
21 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The person signaling to the others with their flashlight began shooting at the correctional officers from a line of trees across the street before fleeing.—
Chris Boyette,
CNN Money,
24 Sep. 2025
-
Mitchell faces fleeing and eluding, criminal mischief and resisting arrest.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Neanderthals, archaic humans who lived in Europe and Central Asia before disappearing around 40,000 years ago, are known to have lived alongside the Denisovans and interbred with them.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN Money,
25 Sep. 2025
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Additionally, submitting the list only weeks before the fiscal year ends, lawmakers must choose between accepting the plan and risking undermining Congress’s decisions on federal spending, or fighting and risking the money disappearing when the deadline passes, the paper added.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In December Democratic senators critical of Medicaid work requirements, including Georgia’s Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, had asked the GAO to report on the administrative costs of implementing Pathways and verifying that recipients are working, studying or volunteering.—
Margaret Coker,
ProPublica,
24 Sep. 2025
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Spontaneity became part of the process, and working with kids or younger participants often led to the most joyful, unexpected images.—
Caterina De Biasio,
Vogue,
24 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Flying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flying. Accessed 27 Sep. 2025.
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