red flag

noun

Definition of red flagnext
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 flag Listen for later forecasts and possible red flag warnings. — Kansas City Star Weather Bot, Kansas City Star, 13 Mar. 2025 If you’re asked to make a payment upfront, act quickly, or provide your Social Security number, financial information, or other personal information, these are red flags. — Rachel Wells, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025 The oligarch reference raised a red flag for Scott Greytal, director of advocacy for Transparency International: What if instead there were criminals lured by the offer? — David Lyons, Sun Sentinel, 10 Mar. 2025 What to Know As of Monday morning, fire weather persists across both states, though the red flag warnings issued over the weekend have expired. — Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 3 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for red flag
Recent Examples of Synonyms for red flag
  1. red light
  2. warning
  3. sign
Noun
  • Netflix’s first season of Temptation Island was filled with cheating men, frustrated women, and lots of flashing red lights as folks repeatedly hooked up in an outdoor tent.
    — Dalton Ross, EW.com, 13 Mar. 2025
  • Meanwhile, Tesla owners routinely upload video of their vehicles doing dangerous maneuvers while operating in FSD mode, like nearly colliding with other vehicles on a highway exit ramp in New Jersey or running red lights in China.
    — Alan Ohnsman, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
Definition of red light
Noun
  • The warning was issued Saturday at 9:49 a.m., and the latest update about this incident was released on Saturday at 10:24 a.m.
    — Kansas City Star Bot, Kansas City Star, 22 Mar. 2025
  • The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency recently issued a joint advisory warning that two-factor authentication needed to be activated for all webmail and VPN accounts as a matter of urgency.
    — Davey Winder, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025
Definition of warning
Noun
  • The tulip is considered one of the biggest signs of warmer months on the horizon and as such, tulip festivals have become a very popular attraction all over the world.
    — Kaitlyn McInnis, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
  • Aside from waiting until the average last frost date has passed, the seedlings will give signs when they can be transplanted outside.
    — Lauren David, Southern Living, 23 Mar. 2025
Definition of sign

Browse Nearby Words

red-eyes
red flag
red flags
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Cite this Entry

“Red flag.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/red%20flag. Accessed 30 Mar. 2025.

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