Synonyms for

Flake

Verb / fleɪk / Another word for flake — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

a small, thin, and often symmetrical piece of something, typically one that has broken away or been peeled off from a larger piece

Synonyms & similar words

eccentric eccentricperson bit fleck peel flakeoff geek scrap snowflake oddball peeloff chip chip crumb fragment particle shard sliver speck splinter piece bit crystal grain flakelet scrap slab slice wafer mote atom dot

Synonyms by register

Formal

fragment particle chip scale

Informal

wimp jerk weirdo nutcase oddball

Literary

scale splinter shard

Antonyms

solid whole complete integral unbroken continuous

Common collocations

  • snow flake
  • skin flake
  • flake off
  • flake out
  • a flake of paint
  • a flake of dandruff
  • flake chocolate

Word family

noun flake
verb flake
adjective flaky

Usage note

As a noun, 'flake' can refer to a small piece of something or, informally, a strange or unreliable person. As a verb, 'flake out' means to fall asleep or become exhausted.

Example sentences

  1. The snowflake melted in her hand.
  2. She brushed the flake of paint off the wall.
  3. He ate the last flake of the croissant.
  4. A flake of dandruff fell on his shoulder.
  5. She saw a flake of glitter on the floor.

Quotes

  • No snowflake in an avalanche ever feels responsible. - Stanislaw Jerzy Lec
  • I am a flake. We're all flakes. - Gwen Stefani
  • The flakes of snow grew larger and larger, and at last they looked just like great white fowls. - Hans Christian Andersen

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