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flash

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verb

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as in to twinkle
to shine with light at regular intervals the disco lights flashed, and the revelers danced

Synonyms & Similar Words

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flash

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adjective

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb flash contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of flash are gleam, glimmer, glint, glisten, glitter, shimmer, and sparkle. While all these words mean "to send forth light," flash implies a sudden outburst of bright light.

lightning flashed

When is it sensible to use gleam instead of flash?

Although the words gleam and flash have much in common, gleam suggests a steady light seen through an obscuring medium or against a dark background.

lights gleamed in the valley

When could glimmer be used to replace flash?

The words glimmer and flash are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, glimmer suggests a faint or wavering gleam.

a distant glimmering light

Where would glint be a reasonable alternative to flash?

While in some cases nearly identical to flash, glint implies a cold glancing light.

glinting steel

When would glisten be a good substitute for flash?

While the synonyms glisten and flash are close in meaning, glisten applies to the soft sparkle from a wet or oily surface.

glistening wet sidewalk

In what contexts can glitter take the place of flash?

The synonyms glitter and flash are sometimes interchangeable, but glitter connotes a brilliant sparkling or gleaming.

glittering diamonds

When can shimmer be used instead of flash?

The words shimmer and flash can be used in similar contexts, but shimmer means shining with a wavering light.

a shimmering satin dress

When might sparkle be a better fit than flash?

The meanings of sparkle and flash largely overlap; however, sparkle suggests innumerable moving points of bright light.

the sparkling waters

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 flash
Noun
Even through the metallic glow of my phone screen, the energy felt feral and somewhat romantic, a blur of cropped T-shirts, digital camera flashes, and college students climbing trees or lampposts under the setting sun. Ashliene McMenamy, Allure, 17 May 2025 Both men were prone to flashes of brilliance, ultimately lost in a haze of injury and apathy. Carl Anka, New York Times, 16 May 2025
Verb
The young girl took a bite of the guacamole and flashed a thumbs up. Raven Brunner, People.com, 26 May 2025 The blue, silver, and lavender sparkly dress featured a corseted waist and sweetheart neckline—a silhouette and style straight from the Lauren Sánchez school of style—and delicate silver stilettos that flashed her pale pink pedicure. Vogue, 23 May 2025
Adjective
Don’t let the lack of flash fool you — this guy is the real deal. Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2025 The German figures come a day before the scheduled release of flash inflation data for the euro area, which will be closely watched by investors for guidance on the odds of another interest rate cut from the European Central Bank. Sophie Kiderlin, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2024 See All Example Sentences for flash
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flash
Noun
  • After falling behind 2-0 in the series on the road, and looking vastly overmatched in the process, the Timberwolves returned home and finally punched back, putting together a flurry that staggered the Thunder for the first time in the series.
    Dane Mizutani, Twin Cities, 25 May 2025
  • On May 25, Mercury will zip into the curious and chatty sign of Gemini, bringing a flurry of messages and insight Comments Hang tight, because Mercury in Gemini is about to turn up the volume on all the chatter!
    Valerie Mesa, People.com, 25 May 2025
Noun
  • Short bursts of revenue can flatter results but may not create lasting value, so make decisions with a long horizon in mind.
    Ayo Adepoju, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
  • The successful challenge appeared to give Florida a burst of energy, but the Panthers could not convert on any of their chances in the shutout loss.
    Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 27 May 2025
Noun
  • The song runs on for more than six minutes on the album, including a perfectly gnarly guitar solo from Freeman himself.
    Simon Vozick-Levinson, Rolling Stone, 30 May 2025
  • Trolley lines where trains are now scheduled to arrive every 15 minutes could be scaled back to 30-minute headways.
    David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 May 2025
Noun
  • The heroic game five effort from the Celtics felt like the start of a miracle.
    Tom Rende, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025
  • To top that, 2001 Miami would’ve needed to obliterate everything on its schedule, not require a bouncy miracle to beat Boston College.
    Chris Branch, New York Times, 20 May 2025
Noun
  • The blueprint looks like this: speed + spectacle + story.
    John Cairney, Sportico.com, 24 May 2025
  • The two-hour event, a massive military spectacle and unofficial birthday party, takes place on Constitution Avenue near the National Mall and starts at 6:30 p.m. ET.
    George Petras, USA Today, 24 May 2025
Verb
  • The futuristic design features gleaming white concrete, glass and water in a complex of five buildings designed by famous Spanish architects Santiago Calatrava and Félix Candela in 1998.
    Joanne Shurvell, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
  • Grace Karin Zip-Front Midi Dress with Pockets A gleaming gold zipper down the front lends a dramatic flourish to this little black dress with a banded waist and cap sleeves.
    Jamie Allison Sanders, People.com, 30 May 2025
Verb
  • The artists’ works will be displayed at the Tribeca Festival Hub at Spring Studios throughout the festival before being presented to this year’s festival award winners.
    Marc Malkin, Variety, 20 May 2025
  • Like Leads and Contacts, Insightly displays Opportunities in a table by default.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 20 May 2025
Verb
  • As evening sets in, grab a front-row seat by the water to catch the sunset, then cozy up under twinkling café lights with a s’mores kit in hand, perfect for roasting around the resort’s firepit.
    Angela Caraway-Carlton, Miami Herald, 20 May 2025
  • Note that this is why planets typically don’t twinkle.
    Phil Plait, Scientific American, 15 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Flash.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flash. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.

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