flare-up

noun

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.
For many, the journey from diagnosis to disease management is marked by navigating sudden lifestyle adjustments, grappling with self-image shifts, and finding ways to cope with the unpredictability of flare-ups. Chloe Castleberry, Flow Space, 25 July 2025 The recent flare-up came after five Thai soldiers were wounded in a landmine explosion on Wednesday. Kocha Olarn, CNN Money, 25 July 2025 Following the flare-up in May, both countries took retaliatory actions, with Thailand stopping nearly all border crossings before ultimately closing them entirely. Rachel Wolf, FOXNews.com, 24 July 2025 And Vakil said future flare-ups of violence felt inevitable. Chantal Da Silva, NBC news, 17 July 2025 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

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Cite this Entry

“Flare-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flare-up. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.

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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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