as in darting
to make an irregular series of quick, sudden movements
the horse's tail flicked in restless irritation
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Recent Examples of flicking
This could be the bookworm equivalent of jet setting, perhaps—seeking out the places we’re taken to while flicking the pages.
—
Connor Sturges, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Apr. 2026
Edmundson, who’d lost MacKinnon on his first goal, atoned by receiving Kempe’s pass in the high slot and flicking a shot that clipped Wedgewood on its way into the net.
—Andrew Knoll, Daily News, 26 Apr. 2026
Maza drew in Hamburg players before flicking the ball on for Kofane, who lashed it into the top-left corner.
—ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026
The name Dekopin in Japanese refers to flicking someone on the forehead with a finger, typically as a lighthearted punishment or joke.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 24 Feb. 2026
In Japanese, the word refers to flicking someone on the forehead with a finger, typically as a lighthearted punishment or joke.
—Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 24 Feb. 2026
Just a bit self-conscious, and sometimes the hair flicking and all that.
—Alison Weinflash, Rolling Stone, 18 Feb. 2026
Alijah Arenas switched between his forehand shot and backhand, flicking the plastic ball over the net to his opponent, former NBA star Brandon Jennings.
—Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 20 Jan. 2026
While the horses were flicking sand like fireworks.
—Literary Hub, 15 Jan. 2026
Connor Sturges, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Apr. 2026
Edmundson, who’d lost MacKinnon on his first goal, atoned by receiving Kempe’s pass in the high slot and flicking a shot that clipped Wedgewood on its way into the net.
—Andrew Knoll, Daily News, 26 Apr. 2026
Maza drew in Hamburg players before flicking the ball on for Kofane, who lashed it into the top-left corner.
—ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026
The name Dekopin in Japanese refers to flicking someone on the forehead with a finger, typically as a lighthearted punishment or joke.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 24 Feb. 2026
In Japanese, the word refers to flicking someone on the forehead with a finger, typically as a lighthearted punishment or joke.
—Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 24 Feb. 2026
Just a bit self-conscious, and sometimes the hair flicking and all that.
—Alison Weinflash, Rolling Stone, 18 Feb. 2026
Alijah Arenas switched between his forehand shot and backhand, flicking the plastic ball over the net to his opponent, former NBA star Brandon Jennings.
—Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 20 Jan. 2026
While the horses were flicking sand like fireworks.
—Literary Hub, 15 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flicking
Verb
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From corners, Bromley pack the six-yard box, with multiple players darting towards its centre.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2026
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The hungry sharks surrounded Barley in the clips, leaping out of the water and quickly darting around his Sea-Doo.—
Charna Flam,
PEOPLE,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The report said the ultra wealthy are more mobile than ever, buying homes around the world and flitting from city to city more frequently.—
Robert Frank,
CNBC,
23 Apr. 2026
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Although the Marshallese players were mostly stone-faced, their eyes—briefly flitting over to the crowd and the many cameras that followed them onto the field—belied both their excitement and anxiety at the gravity of the moment.—
Cheri Lucas Rowlands,
Longreads,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Kick your legs in small up-and-down fluttering motions while keeping your lower back flat and abs tight throughout.—
Jakob Roze,
Health,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Video from the scene hours after the fire first erupted showed ash fluttering through the air and burned paper in the yards of homes across the street from the warehouse.—
Joy Benedict,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
New Year’s Eve brought music and dancing to the central square.—
Lizzie Johnson,
New Yorker,
25 Apr. 2026
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The Moon is in your sign dancing beautifully with Mercury, Mars and Saturn, encouraging you to make sensible, practical plans for the future, especially related to travel, publishing, medicine and the law.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flicking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flicking. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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