FLASH Synonyms: 327 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

flash 1 of 3

noun

Definition of flash next

as in flurry

a sudden and usually temporary growth of activity a flash of last-minute trips to the grocery store before the onset of the big snowstorm

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in burst

a sudden intense expression of strong feeling a much-needed flash of humor during the otherwise boring lecture

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in minute

a very small space of time the shower will be over in a flash

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in miracle

something extraordinary or surprising the new goalie for our hockey team was apparently quite a flash in his hometown

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in spectacle

excessive or unnecessary display the expensive clothes, the luxury cars, and other apparent signs of success are all flash that belie the fact that the family is up to its ears in debt

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

flash

2 of 3

verb

ˈflash

as in to gleam

to shoot forth bursts of light the actress's diamond necklace flashed as she hurried on stage to accept the award

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to display

to present so as to invite notice or attention flashed a wad of cash as he paid for his dinner

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to twinkle

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to publish

to make known openly or publicly flashed the news of the royal birth around the world

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

flash

3 of 3

adjective

as in brief

lasting only for a short time flash floods in the local area

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Strong thunderstorms with bright flashes of lightning and loud booms of thunder rolled through the Kansas City are overnight, drenching the metro with more than an inch of rain in a matter of hours. —

Kansas City Star, 18 May 2026 Researchers at Georgia Tech have developed a version of NAND flash memory built from ferroelectric materials that can withstand radiation levels 30 times higher than conventional NAND. —

Deena Theresa, Interesting Engineering, 18 May 2026

Verb

Troopers turned on their emergency flashing lights, and the car pulled over onto the right-side emergency lane. —

David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 13 May 2026 There was a point against Everton when Antoine Semenyo flashed the ball across the face of the box from the right wing, and nobody was there to meet it. —

Sam Lee, New York Times, 13 May 2026

Adjective

Many fish, like salmon, are flash-frozen shortly after being caught, locking in freshness. —

Anne Wolf, Martha Stewart, 8 Feb. 2026 Campaign ads, showing images of flash-mob robberies, promised voters that harsher penalties would put an end to basic items being locked away in display cases and funnel people repeatedly arrested for drug offenses in treatment. —

Kelly Davis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for flash

Recent Examples of Synonyms for flash

Noun

The flurry of headlines about what was left out of the film—most obviously, the 1993 lawsuit that accused Jackson of molesting a 13-year-old, and subsequent lawsuits alleging similar abuse—also haven’t mattered.

— Jemele Hill, The Atlantic, 16 May 2026
Kieffer acknowledged, however, that the board’s attorneys were looking into the flurry of legal questions regarding the referendum and the map.

— Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 14 May 2026