RED FLAGS Synonyms: 22 Similar and Opposite Words

red flags

noun

plural of red flag

as in red lights

something that tells of approaching danger or risk the résumé she accidentally left on the office printer was a red flag that she was planning to quit

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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 red flags While Vasilevskiy’s postseason numbers are starting to raise red flags, his regular-season play shouldn’t. — Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026 With horror stories and red flags amplified on social media, Chan says trust levels are also lower than ever. — Rachel Hale, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026 Naik flagged several red flags worth booking an appointment over. — Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Aug. 2026 Villa rushed for 270 yards and four touchdowns, but giving up over 300 yards against Valencia raises red flags. — Ethan Hanson, Daily News, 27 Aug. 2026 For anyone with a basic knowledge of ancient history, there were red flags aplenty. — Julia Buckley, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026 In June 2025, Russian banks raised red flags on a potential debt crisis as high interest rates weighed on borrowers’ ability to pay off loans. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 23 Aug. 2026 They're built to avoid obvious red flags and exploit disconnected verification processes. — Robert Granados, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026 And didn’t Hal’s hunch help expose an alien that not only looked exactly like a human male, but also passed an X-ray without sending up any red flags? — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 16 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for red flags

Noun

Another is investigating dozens of incidents in which Teslas using partial self-driving software ran red lights or drove on the wrong side of the road, sometimes crashing into other vehicles and causing injuries.

— Bernard Condon, Fortune, 4 Sep. 2026
For much of the nearly 40-minute journey, the driver appeared to stop at red lights and obey traffic laws, Sgt.

— Jenny Jarvie Follow, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of red lights

Noun

The public warnings are the culmination of growing concern globally about the capability of AI, following numerous cyberattacks and security incidents in recent months by rogue models developed by both OpenAI and Anthropic.

— Kai Nicol-Schwarz, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2026
Extreme heat warnings are in place from San Diego to Las Vegas to Phoenix while a heat advisory is in place across California, from Bakersfield to San Francisco to Sacramento.

— Kenton Gewecke, ABC News, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of warnings

Noun

Tentative signs of improvement emerged in May, June and July, when border crossings picked up slightly, the agency reported.

— Rio Yamat, Fortune, 6 Sep. 2026
Next, another set of no-parking signs went up and came down (except for several that were mistakenly left up), with no work having been done.

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of signs

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red flag

red flags

red giant

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“Red flags.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/red%20flags. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of red flags

noun

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