1
as in hovers
to move through the air with or as if with outstretched wings
the Wright brothers realized mankind's age-old wish to fly
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in escapes
to get free from a dangerous or confining situation
you must fly to safety immediately
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in scurries
to proceed or move quickly
flew down the concourse to catch his flight
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in flees
to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening
no one in the movies ever thinks to fly from the ax murderer and immediately call the police
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in disappears
to cease to be visible
the morning mist had flown, and a sparkling sea lay before us
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in passes
to withstand scrutiny and gain acceptance or approval
the familiar "Because I said so!" is a reason that won't fly with most teenagers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of flies
Mike Wall, Space.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Frozen yogurt business pays tribute to Charlie Kirk as product flies 'off the shelves'.
—FOXNews.com, 15 Sep. 2025
American Airlines flies the Phoenix-Tucson route today, a connection responsible for most of Tucson's passenger traffic, according to Tucson Aviation Authority spokesperson Austin Wright.
—Michael Salerno, AZCentral.com, 15 Sep. 2025
The inspector found mouse droppings under the chip rack, black organic residue in the ice machine and flies in the grocery area.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Sep. 2025
This flies in the face of a decades-old stereotype that Stone Age women didn’t use stone tools as frequently as men.
—Sarah Durn, Popular Science, 11 Sep. 2025
All six passengers and crew onboard the Family Boat, which flies the Portuguese flag, were reported safe and unharmed.
—Callum Sutherland, Time, 10 Sep. 2025
Even in the Midwest, Nebraska flies blissfully under the radar of most tourists' radars.
—Iona Brannon, Travel + Leisure, 9 Sep. 2025
And then there’s Eros, also known as Cupid, who flies away with his little buttocks clenched at the least hint of a rational process.
—James Parker, The Atlantic, 9 Sep. 2025
Noun
The current mission is known as NG-23, because it was supposed to be the 23rd cargo effort that Northrop Grumman flies to the ISS for NASA.
—Mike Wall, Space.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Frozen yogurt business pays tribute to Charlie Kirk as product flies 'off the shelves'.
—FOXNews.com, 15 Sep. 2025
American Airlines flies the Phoenix-Tucson route today, a connection responsible for most of Tucson's passenger traffic, according to Tucson Aviation Authority spokesperson Austin Wright.
—Michael Salerno, AZCentral.com, 15 Sep. 2025
The inspector found mouse droppings under the chip rack, black organic residue in the ice machine and flies in the grocery area.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Sep. 2025
This flies in the face of a decades-old stereotype that Stone Age women didn’t use stone tools as frequently as men.
—Sarah Durn, Popular Science, 11 Sep. 2025
All six passengers and crew onboard the Family Boat, which flies the Portuguese flag, were reported safe and unharmed.
—Callum Sutherland, Time, 10 Sep. 2025
Even in the Midwest, Nebraska flies blissfully under the radar of most tourists' radars.
—Iona Brannon, Travel + Leisure, 9 Sep. 2025
And then there’s Eros, also known as Cupid, who flies away with his little buttocks clenched at the least hint of a rational process.
—James Parker, The Atlantic, 9 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flies
Verb
-
The best part of all for us is that the public still sees insurers as stuffy pencil-pushers (the same type of outdated view that hovers over agriculture).—
Brett Owens,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Edith Wharton also hovers in the narrowing of female options as the years pass by.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Laura escapes her grasp and submerges Cherry, which Daniel witnesses.—
Erin Jensen,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Although the shooting causes alarm and triggers police investigations, Serafina initially escapes direct consequences by going into hiding.—
Isabella Wandermurem,
Time,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The older dog is shown marching along, while the puppy scurries along, attempting to match its pace.—
Soo Kim,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Sep. 2025
-
In some versions of the tale, the wolf scurries off to the forest while the three pigs live happily ever after in humble homesteads of their choice.—
Julie Gallant,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The subject moves to the other side of the building, jumps off the building and flees campus into a nearby neighborhood, according to Mason with UDPS.—
Mary Kekatos,
ABC News,
12 Sep. 2025
-
By the end of the freshman season, Jackie flees back to New York to clear her head.—
Marc Berman,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In his account of an Essex owl evening, all senses seem to merge, and all distinction between animate and inanimate disappears.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 Sep. 2025
-
Second, the stigma of asking a question and demonstrating a lack of understanding disappears as students begin to interact with their personalized tutor.—
Steve Grubbs,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
As one example, a recent study found that in San Diego County, rents increase by more than $1,700 per unit annually when a city passes a Tenant Protection Ordinance.—
U T Readers,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Most of us who are actually alive would, y’know, instead say the name of the restaurant; such is the shorthand understanding that passes between two people who have known each other for some time.—
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Embark's DNA tests screens for more than 400 breeds of dog, including wild animals such as dingoes, coyotes, wolves and village dogs, helping owners of mixed breeds understand their pet's ancestry.—
Rachael O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Sealing cracks and gaps in your house, add weather stripping around doors and windows, and repair or replace any torn window screens.—
Evan Moore,
Charlotte Observer,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
That leaves a bigger trail for criminals to exploit.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
21 Sep. 2025
-
That leaves rescues and smaller nonprofits to fill the gap for cases like Christopher's, where a vulnerable kitten requires immediate, hands-on care.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Flies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flies. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.
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