1
: a sudden outburst or intensification
a flare-up of hostilities
2
: a sudden bursting (as of a smoldering fire) into flame or light
a danger of flare-ups
3
: a sudden appearance or worsening of the symptoms of a disease or condition
an asthmatic flare-up
Examples of flare-up in a Sentence
took medication to prevent a flare-up of her asthma
there's no need for an angry flare-up, as we'll take care of the problem immediately
Recent Examples on the Web
People with rosacea can run into challenges during the summer, too, since anything that raises body temperature is a potential trigger for a flare-up.
—
Kara Nesvig, Allure, 14 May 2026
To add to the sense of chaos, a ballboy refused to give the ball to Middlesbrough’s Matt Targett — who began his career at Southampton — which led to another flare-up.
—Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 13 May 2026
Efforts to end the Iran war, now in its third month, appeared stalled amid new flare-ups in fighting in the Gulf.
—Guy Faulconbridge, USA Today, 9 May 2026
Without regular cleaning, a cooking flare-up on the stovetop can ignite the grease sitting just above it, turning a small kitchen accident into a serious one.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for flare-up
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.
Kara Nesvig, Allure, 14 May 2026
To add to the sense of chaos, a ballboy refused to give the ball to Middlesbrough’s Matt Targett — who began his career at Southampton — which led to another flare-up.
—Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 13 May 2026
Efforts to end the Iran war, now in its third month, appeared stalled amid new flare-ups in fighting in the Gulf.
—Guy Faulconbridge, USA Today, 9 May 2026
Without regular cleaning, a cooking flare-up on the stovetop can ignite the grease sitting just above it, turning a small kitchen accident into a serious one.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for flare-up
Cite this Entry
“Flare-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flare-up. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
flare-up
noun
: a sudden appearance or worsening of the symptoms of a disease or condition
an asthmatic flare-up
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
