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
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 flag
Extra staffing was needed over the weekend as the swell started to grow, with lifeguards in Newport Beach posting red flags as warnings, keeping them up on Monday as the swell continued.
—
Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 29 Sep. 2025
And visceral fat stands out as the strongest red flag, linked to poorer reasoning, memory and processing speed.
—New Atlas, 28 Sep. 2025
Now industry watchers are starting to raise red flags about ARR.
—Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 28 Sep. 2025
The record-high stock ownership raises red flags about whether a market downturn could hit Americans’ personal finances — especially in an economy with an increasingly fragile labor market and stubborn inflation.
—John Towfighi, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for red flag
Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 29 Sep. 2025
And visceral fat stands out as the strongest red flag, linked to poorer reasoning, memory and processing speed.
—New Atlas, 28 Sep. 2025
Now industry watchers are starting to raise red flags about ARR.
—Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 28 Sep. 2025
The record-high stock ownership raises red flags about whether a market downturn could hit Americans’ personal finances — especially in an economy with an increasingly fragile labor market and stubborn inflation.
—John Towfighi, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for red flag
Recent Examples of Synonyms for red flag
Noun
-
This is what the round red pinhole is for—simply hold it up to one of your eyes and look through it, scanning the room for a glowing red light.—
Amelia McBride,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Oct. 2025
-
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,
6 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Vehicles included in this recall may have an error in the instrument panel software at startup, failing to show speed, brake system information, and tire pressure warning lights.—
Olivia Evans,
Louisville Courier Journal,
3 Oct. 2025
-
There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect due to Tropical Storm Octave, according to the NHC.—
Julia Gomez,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The kids associate helicopters with life flights to the local hospital, a sign that someone has been seriously injured, Cornelison said.—
John Wisely,
Freep.com,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Eddie Howe will hope Newcastle’s 4-0 thumping of USG is the first sign of their new-look front line gelling, with Nick Woltemade, Anthony Gordon (two penalties) and Harvey Barnes all on target.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Red flag.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/red%20flag. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share