flicker 1 of 2

verb

ˈfli-kər How to pronounce flicker (audio)
Definition of flickernext
as in to flutter
to make an irregular series of quick, sudden movements a dragonfly flickering above the salt marsh

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

flicker

2 of 2

noun

1
as in movie
a story told by means of a series of continuously projected pictures and a sound track as a child, the future director would spend hours sitting in the theater, totally entranced by the flickers

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2
as in flurry
a sudden and usually temporary growth of activity usually there's a flicker in car sales when the new models come out

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in hint
an almost imperceptible sign of something there was a flicker of recognition in her eye when I mentioned his name, but she denied knowing him

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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 flicker
Verb
The apparently bulky buildings and trees of the 3D game world around us would actually be pixels flickering on a flat screen. — Quanta Magazine, 25 Sep. 2026 Visitors to the theater have reported cold air on hot days, lights mysteriously flickering off and strange activity in the balcony. — Kaitlyn Keegan, Hartford Courant, 25 Sep. 2026
Noun
Jackson’s availability was curbed by red cards at Chelsea — in Bruges, a barge and shirt pull with defender Han-Beom Lee suggested those flickers of fury and confrontation still burn. — Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026 For children themselves, wonder remains abundant—in the bigness of a Tyrannosaurus rex in a museum, or the flicker of fireflies in the summer dusk. — Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for flicker
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flicker
  1. flutter
  2. movie
  3. flurry
  4. hint
  5. flit
  6. film
  7. burst
  8. glimmer
Verb
  • Yellow caution tape fluttered in the wind as water poured into a room strewn with wooden debris, an upturned refrigerator and a television.
    — Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Out in the garden, living butterflies flutter among orchids and flowering shrubs, some landing in butterfly traps hanging from the trees.
    — Sophie Neiman, Christian Science Monitor, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of flutter
Noun
  • In my opinion, every good movie that enters the German market helps the German market, and the theatrical market in general.
    — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Critics also widely embraced the movie, which is seen as a top contender at the Oscars.
    — Brent Lang, IndieWire, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of movie
Noun
  • The turns came in a flurry as each of Green, Levine, and Clarkson had two spots to fill, and Latifah had one to give.
    — Lars Brandle, Billboard, 7 Oct. 2026
  • This bold flurry is a stark contrast with Democratic leaders, who would like to start really shaping their agenda … after the midterm elections.
    — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of flurry
Noun
  • Gone are the beer bashes, the thrill of invention and any hint that Zuckerberg lusted for something — women, attention, clout — other than a quarterly earnings report.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
  • However, the document didn't give any clear hints as to when exactly policymakers thought that hike could come.
    — Alex Harring, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of hint
Verb
  • Zosia Mamet, Jason Schwartzman, Chris O’Dowd, Billie Lourd, and Will Price flit in and out of the picture, some trying to act as the voices of reason and others cheering on the madness.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Those yellow jackets flitted around the room like bees before the event, mingling with fundraiser attendees and big-name actors, explaining what, exactly, City Year does.
    — Laura Zornosa, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of flit
Noun
  • Researchers are now chasing even easier formats, including oral dissolving films, sometimes called thin films or sublingual films, that dissolve in the mouth and release medication without any injection.
    — Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Bird has concerns, particularly around the build-up of power around technological advancements, which push the film into surprising and exciting dystopian directions.
    — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of film
Noun
  • Most importantly, there was a burst of chocolate flavor in every bite.
    — Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 9 Oct. 2026
  • But this record-setting FRB still significantly pushes back the baseline for when these bursts can occur in cosmic history.
    — Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of burst
Noun
  • Still, Crow—the ever-optimist, as her body of work proves—clings on to the glimmers of hope from leaders of the world who do show us the best parts of humanity.
    — Selena Fragassi, SPIN, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Viewers get only glimmers of the characters’ personalities and backgrounds, but the show offers enough detail and texture to understand how Season 1 might unfold.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of glimmer

Browse Nearby Words

flicked (off)
flicker
flickered
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Cite this Entry

“Flicker.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flicker. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on flicker

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about flicker

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