flare-up

noun

ˈfler-ˌəp 

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

Synonyms of flare-up

• flurry
• burst
• outburst
• outbreak
• flare

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

Despite another flare-up over Greenland in January, the bill has failed to make any progress. —Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 21 Apr. 2026

Gold fell after a weekend flare-up in Middle Eastern waters renewed inflation risks from an energy-supply shock and cast doubt over talks to end the Iran war. —Yihui Xie, Bloomberg, 19 Apr. 2026

Investors embraced the latest developments in the Middle East, where any de-escalation might act to help steady global economic activity and ease recent concern over a flare-up in inflationary price pressures. —Sean Conlon,hugh Leask, CNBC, 17 Apr. 2026

My stomach cramping and pain were too sharp to even walk, and the four-day trip was lost to a flare-up. —Chloe Laws, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1839, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for flare-up

• buttercup
• backup
• blowup
• breakup
• buildup
• checkup
• cleanup
• holdup
• hookup
• lineup
• lockup
• makeup

Kids Definition

flare-up

noun

ˈfla(ə)r-ˌəp, 

ˈfle(ə)r-

: a sudden burst (as of flame or anger)

Medical Definition

flare-up

noun

-ˌəp 

: a sudden appearance or worsening of the symptoms of a disease or condition

an asthmatic flare-up