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
The idea is that the two companies will be able to create an advanced platform that further allows clients to take action on potential red flags before any consequences come about.
—
Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 22 Aug. 2025
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell used some very un-Powell-like language at Jackson Hole on Friday, and to Torsten Slok, chief economist at Apollo Global Management, that was a red flag.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 22 Aug. 2025
Double red flags indicate that a beach has been closed to swimming for safety.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 21 Aug. 2025
For them, conflict is not a red flag but a way to gradually build intimacy in disguise.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for red flag
Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 22 Aug. 2025
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell used some very un-Powell-like language at Jackson Hole on Friday, and to Torsten Slok, chief economist at Apollo Global Management, that was a red flag.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 22 Aug. 2025
Double red flags indicate that a beach has been closed to swimming for safety.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 21 Aug. 2025
For them, conflict is not a red flag but a way to gradually build intimacy in disguise.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for red flag
Recent Examples of Synonyms for red flag
Noun
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What To Know Also high on the list was Oregon, with its strict driving laws and some of the highest fines in the country for running a red light or not wearing a seat belt.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Aug. 2025
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Enjoy up to $150 off on red light therapy skincare tools that nearly the entire PEOPLE shopping team has tried at this point.—
Averi Baudler,
People.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Preventing famine through monitoring, early warning and early response to potential and emerging food and nutrition crises is paramount.—
Forbes.com,
Forbes.com,
25 Aug. 2025
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Nearly 20 years later, as storms grow stronger and climate disasters are becoming more frequent, Honoré says the lessons of Hurricane Katrina remain urgent: Local leaders fail, warnings can be too late, and people without resources are often left behind.—
Reena Advani,
NPR,
25 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Another sign something was wrong: a childhood stutter reemerged.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
27 Aug. 2025
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There’s no sign administration officials, including Terrell, will let up in their campaign against higher education.—
Peter Elkind,
ProPublica,
27 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Red flag.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/red%20flag. Accessed 3 Sep. 2025.
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