flare-up

noun

Synonyms of flare-upnext
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
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.
AstraZeneca — The pharma giant rose 3% after its experimental drug, tozorakimab, was found to meaningfully reduce flare-ups in cases of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 27 Mar. 2026 Firefighters stayed on scene overnight to monitor the burn area for any flare-ups. Katie Langford, Denver Post, 26 Mar. 2026 But that becomes problematic in conditions like psoriasis, for which the memory of a flare-up can make the tissue overly sensitive to environmental triggers such as stress, leading to chronic inflammation. Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 26 Mar. 2026 Rather, the flare-up is a result of an intensification of long-simmering, historical security concerns along the Durand Line. Rabia Akhtar, The Conversation, 20 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for flare-up

Word History

First Known Use

1839, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of flare-up was in 1839

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Flare-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flare-up. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.

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
: a sudden appearance or worsening of the symptoms of a disease or condition
an asthmatic flare-up
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