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flagrant

adjective
fla·​grant | \ ˈflā-grənt also ˈfla- How to pronounce flagrant (audio) \

Definition of flagrant

1 : conspicuously offensive flagrant errors especially : so obviously inconsistent with what is right or proper as to appear to be a flouting of law or morality flagrant violations of human rights
2 archaic : fiery hot : burning
Other Words from flagrant Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about flagrant

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Other Words from flagrant

flagrantly adverb

Choose the Right Synonym for flagrant

flagrant, glaring, gross, rank mean conspicuously bad or objectionable. flagrant applies usually to offenses or errors so bad that they can neither escape notice nor be condoned. flagrant abuse of the office of president glaring implies painful or damaging obtrusiveness of something that is conspicuously wrong, faulty, or improper. glaring errors gross implies the exceeding of reasonable or excusable limits. gross carelessness rank applies to what is openly and extremely objectionable and utterly condemned. rank heresy

Did You Know?

In Latin, flagrare means "to burn," and flagrans means "burning" or "fiery hot" (both literally and figuratively). When it was first used in the 16th century, "flagrant" had the same meaning as "flagrans," but by the 18th century it had acquired its current meaning of "conspicuously bad." Some usage commentators warn against using "flagrant" and "blatant" interchangeably. While both words denote conspicuousness, they are not exact synonyms. "Blatant" is usually used of some person, action, or thing that attracts disapproving attention (e.g., "a blatant grammatical error"). "Flagrant" is used similarly, but usually carries a heavier weight of violated morality (e.g., "flagrant abuse of public office").

Examples of flagrant in a Sentence

flagrant abuse of the law her flagrant disregard for other people's rights

Recent Examples on the Web

 In a summer league game against the Boston Celtics, Allen got entangled with Celtics rookie Grant Williams and forcefully pushed him off of a backscreen to draw his first flagrant foul. — Scott Gleeson, USA TODAY, "Grayson Allen ejected for two blatant flagrant fouls - reminiscent of his Duke tripping days," 11 July 2019 Government prosecutors rarely eschew highly visible, flagrant misconduct, whoever the perpetrator is. — WSJ, "Don’t Expect SEC to Give Elon Musk a Pass," 21 Aug. 2018 The missteps and misdeeds of Trump’s team have been so flagrant and frequent that their cumulative effect is more exhaustion than outrage. — Jacob S. Hacker, Washington Post, "The missteps and misdeeds of Trump’s Cabinet," 1 Aug. 2019 At times, the discrimination was flagrant—like in 1913, when the National American Woman Suffrage Association asked black activists to walk at the back of a landmark women’s march on Washington. — Brigit Katz, Smithsonian, "The Library of Congress Needs Your Help Transcribing Suffragist Papers," 31 July 2019 Russia’s open return to old habits, including flagrant attempts to manipulate European politics, began again in earnest in 2007, with an effort to manipulate public debate in Estonia. — Anne Applebaum, The New York Review of Books, "The Lure of Western Europe," 6 June 2019 Some were flagrant conflicts of interest, like a school clerk who transferred $14,806 in school funds to her personal account. — Andrea Gallo, ProPublica, "Why the “Most Egregious” Ethics Case in Louisiana Remains Open Nine Years Later," 16 May 2019 This was viewed as flagrant hypocrisy on Gloria’s part. — Karen Karbo, National Geographic, "How Gloria Steinem became the 'world’s most famous feminist'," 25 Mar. 2019 White House officials who reviewed the Finite State report said the findings revealed flagrant violations of standard protocols. — Dustin Volz, WSJ, "Huawei Telecom Gear Much More Vulnerable to Hackers Than Rivals' Equipment, Report Says," 25 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'flagrant.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of flagrant

1513, in the meaning defined at sense 2

History and Etymology for flagrant

Latin flagrant-, flagrans, present participle of flagrare to burn — more at black

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More Definitions for flagrant

flagrant

adjective
How to pronounce flagrant (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of flagrant

: very bad : too bad to be ignored

See the full definition for flagrant in the English Language Learners Dictionary

flagrant

adjective
fla·​grant | \ ˈflā-grənt How to pronounce flagrant (audio) \

Kids Definition of flagrant

: so bad as to be impossible to overlook a flagrant lie

Other Words from flagrant

flagrantly adverb

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More from Merriam-Webster on flagrant

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with flagrant

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for flagrant

Spanish Central: Translation of flagrant

Nglish: Translation of flagrant for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of flagrant for Arabic Speakers

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