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

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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 There are six red flags of CDR that signify an identity fused to work, where self-worth depends on achievement. — Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026 Other grants also raised red flags for experts and lawmakers. — Anna Maria Barry-Jester, ProPublica, 7 Aug. 2026 The video then lays a laundry list of red flags – from apps that collect data on students to those that target them with advertisements to those that may harm their ability to learn. — Aaron Glantz, Christian Science Monitor, 7 Aug. 2026 Kern, a Colorado Springs police officer, had no red flags, Borega says, receiving several accolades from the police chief. — Kalia Richardson, USA Today, 6 Aug. 2026 Mannion’s initial installations of motions and misdirection plays have been effective from my vantage point in team drills — not red flags in need of refinement. — Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026 Still, a company spokesperson urged prospective renters and buyers to beware of possible red flags that might signal a scam. — Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 31 July 2026 Knowing what to look for and paying attention to common red flags that may indicate reproductions is key to scoring genuine treasures. — Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 July 2026 You may be fooled into joining a brokerage with high fees, poor investment options or other red flags. — Dan Avery, CNBC, 17 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for red flags

Noun

Police said Bessent, who had no license, drove more than 118 mph, blowing through red lights before crashing into a Chevrolet Cruz.

— Rafael Olmeda, Sun Sentinel, 7 Aug. 2026
While that level isn’t full of color, the yellow and red lights of the spotlight buoys stand out, bright and saturated.

— Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of red lights

Noun

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa clashed with the head of state energy company Eskom over the speed of opening the national power grid to private operators, pitting the government’s flagship energy reform against warnings of bondholder shock.

— Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 12 Aug. 2026
In January 2025, the Commissioners Court approved a policy along party lines giving sheriff’s deputies the ability to issue trespass warnings to anyone in violation of the decorum policy.

— Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of warnings

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red flag

red flags

red giant

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“Red flags.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/red%20flags. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of red flags

noun

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