as in red light
something that tells of approaching danger or risk
the résumé she accidentally left on the office printer was a red flag that she was planning to quit
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Recent Examples of red flag
But even that outing, against a lackluster offense, came with red flags.
—
Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 26 Apr. 2026
In the snow nearby, a red flag signals who the kidnappers were.
—Ben Davis, The New York Review of Books, 25 Apr. 2026
Electrical Issues and Unsafe Wiring Electrical problems are among the most serious red flags and often the most dangerous.
—Angelika Pokovba, Martha Stewart, 25 Apr. 2026
The message also came from a suspicious email address, not an official company source, a common red flag in phishing schemes.
—Sergio Candido, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for red flag
Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 26 Apr. 2026
In the snow nearby, a red flag signals who the kidnappers were.
—Ben Davis, The New York Review of Books, 25 Apr. 2026
Electrical Issues and Unsafe Wiring Electrical problems are among the most serious red flags and often the most dangerous.
—Angelika Pokovba, Martha Stewart, 25 Apr. 2026
The message also came from a suspicious email address, not an official company source, a common red flag in phishing schemes.
—Sergio Candido, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for red flag
Recent Examples of Synonyms for red flag
Noun
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The company’s defense that the EPA doesn’t require a cancer-warning label for Roundup doesn’t cut it with them.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
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Amid chaotic scenes of masked immigration agents roaming neighborhood streets as protesters blew warning whistles, the operation led to two shootings by agents, including the fatal shooting in Franklin Park of Silverio Villegas Gonzalez in September.—
Rick Pearson,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Other factors, including scars, bruising, ligature marks and signs of malnutrition, supported evidence of long-term abuse, the warrant affidavit said.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
28 Apr. 2026
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Many of the victims of Saturday's attack were reportedly from a village near the town of Cajibío, where a vigil was held Monday, with hundreds of people dressing in white as a sign of peace.—
Frank Andrews,
CBS News,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Red flag.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/red%20flag. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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