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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Members of Forbes Technology Council share red flags that can help users make smarter decisions about which apps deserve their trust.
—
Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
Some behaviors are more subtle—and according to industry professionals, these are the biggest red flags.
—Joey Skladany, Travel + Leisure, 14 June 2026
Watch for red flags like urgency, secrecy or emotional pressure.
—Suzanne Wright, USA Today, 9 June 2026
Those red flags include things like surveys showing overconfidence in stocks and technical measures of tightening credit conditions.
—Jim Edwards, Fortune, 9 June 2026
The case against The case against McKenna is built on how high those aforementioned red flags are raised within the Leafs organization.
—Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 2 June 2026
Take a closer look, and the red flags start to add up.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 31 May 2026
Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
Some behaviors are more subtle—and according to industry professionals, these are the biggest red flags.
—Joey Skladany, Travel + Leisure, 14 June 2026
Watch for red flags like urgency, secrecy or emotional pressure.
—Suzanne Wright, USA Today, 9 June 2026
Those red flags include things like surveys showing overconfidence in stocks and technical measures of tightening credit conditions.
—Jim Edwards, Fortune, 9 June 2026
The case against The case against McKenna is built on how high those aforementioned red flags are raised within the Leafs organization.
—Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 2 June 2026
Take a closer look, and the red flags start to add up.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 31 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for red flags
Noun
-
Both earlier crashes were reportedly linked to drivers running red lights, heightening concerns among local residents about safety at the intersection, the outlet reported.—
Angelique Brenes,
PEOPLE,
3 June 2026
-
Two hours later, Eric was standing in the 200 level in front of a Canes backdrop with red lights above his head.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
Changes with this advisory All coastal watches and warnings are discontinued.—
MIAMI HERALD HURRICANE BOT,
Miami Herald,
18 June 2026
-
But the worst may be yet to come, as tropical storm watches and warnings line parts of the Texas and Louisiana coastlines, with concerns for both coastal storm surge and inland freshwater flooding.—
Ben Noll,
Washington Post,
17 June 2026
Noun
-
And the deals extend well beyond skin care, with discounts on hair and makeup products that address everything from early signs of thinning hair and sparse brows to dull complexions in need of a natural-looking flush.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
23 June 2026
-
Chopper 4 flew over the detention center and observed no visible signs that the facility was being dismantled.—
Ivan Taylor,
CBS News,
23 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Red flags.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/red%20flags. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
