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
Fortunately, there are ways to recognize red flags that indicate suspicious job descriptions.
—
Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 6 July 2025
Olfactory red flags Not all odor changes are normal, experts warn.
—Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2025
The third free practice at Silverstone saw two red flags in the final ten minutes, bringing the session to an abrupt halt.
—Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 July 2025
Watch for common red flags: Be cautious of sudden friend requests from unfamiliar accounts, vague messages that mention surprise winnings, poor grammar or any pressure to act quickly.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for red flag
Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 6 July 2025
Olfactory red flags Not all odor changes are normal, experts warn.
—Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2025
The third free practice at Silverstone saw two red flags in the final ten minutes, bringing the session to an abrupt halt.
—Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 July 2025
Watch for common red flags: Be cautious of sudden friend requests from unfamiliar accounts, vague messages that mention surprise winnings, poor grammar or any pressure to act quickly.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for red flag
Recent Examples of Synonyms for red flag
Noun
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Studies of bike riders six years ago — before the popularity of e-bikes soared — found that between 25% and 79% of bicyclists in the city do not stop for red lights.—
Steve Cohen,
New York Daily News,
13 July 2025
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Acknowledging that the previous iteration of the red-light cameras was a controversial issue, most city leaders felt that fatalities and injuries from recent traffic collisions could’ve been avoided had drivers slowed down or not run red lights.—
Shawn Raymundo,
AZCentral.com,
3 July 2025
Noun
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The warning is in effect until 3 a.m. Actions to take when lightning threat is imminent Around 25 million lightning strikes occur in the United States every year, with most taking place during the summer months.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
8 July 2025
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The warning is in effect until 8:45 p.m. Actions to take when lightning threat is imminent Lightning hits the United States approximately 25 million times annually.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
8 July 2025
Noun
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Isaacman is a friend of Elon Musk, and the move was seen as the first sign of the rift between Trump and Musk that widened as the two men publicly feuded over a sweeping tax and spending package central to Trump’s second term agenda.—
Chantelle Lee,
Time,
10 July 2025
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If the interview starts to feel like a brainstorm, that's a great sign.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Red flag.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/red%20flag. Accessed 20 Jul. 2025.
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