as in red light
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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Recent Examples of red flag
Experts on the psychology of school shooters say one of the biggest red flags for future attackers is an unhealthy obsession with past perpetrators.
—
Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025
Over the last several years, multiple studies from the Wisconsin Policy Forum have raised red flags about Wisconsin and the Milwaukee areas lack of public arts funding.
—Claudia Levens, jsonline.com, 8 Sep. 2025
The study also highlighted that failure to gain weight, or any weight loss between birth and day 2, is a critical red flag for survival risk, regardless of initial birth weight.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
Anything less than that is a red flag.
—Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for red flag
Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025
Over the last several years, multiple studies from the Wisconsin Policy Forum have raised red flags about Wisconsin and the Milwaukee areas lack of public arts funding.
—Claudia Levens, jsonline.com, 8 Sep. 2025
The study also highlighted that failure to gain weight, or any weight loss between birth and day 2, is a critical red flag for survival risk, regardless of initial birth weight.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
Anything less than that is a red flag.
—Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for red flag
Recent Examples of Synonyms for red flag
Noun
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Oxygen emits either a greenish-yellow light (the most familiar color of the aurora) or a red light; nitrogen generally gives off a blue light.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
16 Sep. 2025
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The blinking red light is obviously kicker Matt Gay, who missed field goal attempts from 58 and 52 yards Thursday.—
Nicki Jhabvala,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Graphic videos of both atrocities spread quickly and widely online this week, appearing in people's social media feeds, often with little-to-no warning.—
Charles Trepany,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
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Qatar also boasts one of the most advanced early warning radar systems in the region, coupled with Patriot air defense missile system.—
Oren Liebermann,
CNN Money,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
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But the new wave of disavowals represents the latest sign that the conflict, which has killed thousands of Palestinians, has become polarizing within the mainstream of the party.—
David Sivak,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
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Flowers — purple mums, white and yellow lilies, and pink roses — had been laid near the university sign.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Red flag.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/red%20flag. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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