The term "sharps flats" refers to the musical notation symbols that indicate a note is to be raised or lowered by a half step. However, there are several synonyms that can be used to refer to these symbols. One common synonym is the term "accidentals." This term encompasses both sharps and flats and is often used to describe the notes or keys that are not part of the natural diatonic scale. Another synonym is "chromatics," which refers to the use of non-diatonic notes in a musical composition or performance. Finally, some musicians use the term "alterations" to describe sharps and flats, as they symbolically alter the pitch of a note by a half step.