RED FLAGS Synonyms: 22 Similar and Opposite Words

red flags

noun

plural of red flag

as in red lights

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

all clears

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 red flags But Craig Holman, a lobbyist with the government accountability nonprofit advocacy group Public Citizen, told the AP that Marshall’s actions raised ethical red flags. — Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 16 Oct. 2026 Those trends were backed up by the Federal Reserve’s latest Beige Book survey of business and economic conditions, which was riddled with red flags about higher fuel prices across the country. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026 Some recent projects undertaken by the organization raised red flags, say the board. — Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 16 Oct. 2026 At the event, people handed out red flags, symbolizing their desire for bloody vengeance. — Narges Bajoghli, Foreign Affairs, 9 Oct. 2026 DraftKings told Pearson that if a customer’s behavior raises too many red flags, the company will proactively close an account. — ProPublica, 6 Oct. 2026 Israel hadn’t raised red flags on any passenger or member of the crew, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to reporters about the probe. — ABC News, 4 Oct. 2026 In either case, there’s a period of normalcy, followed by red flags and denial after which all hell clearly breaks loose. — Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026 Extreme stress, impatience, or intoxication are major red flags that can lead to negative experiences or removal from flights. — Joey Skladany, Travel + Leisure, 29 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for red flags

Noun

Around midnight, Bethune walked into the parking lot, where the men approached him in a gray 2026 Toyota Camry equipped with flashing blue and red lights, according to Johnson’s arrest affidavit.

— Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026
In one alarming incident, Nistorescu said Linton allegedly slapped a woman and drove through red lights at speeds of 100 miles per hour while off her medication.

— James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of red lights

Browse Nearby Words

red flag

red flags

red giant

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Red flags.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/red%20flags. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of red flags

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

compunction

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Popular

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

Games & Quizzes