flare 1 of 2

noun

ˈfler How to pronounce flare (audio)
Definition of flarenext
1
as in flurry
a sudden and usually temporary growth of activity a flare in gift card sales around graduation time

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in burst
a sudden intense expression of strong feeling ended the quarrel with a stunning flare of swearwords

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in glow
the steady giving off of the form of radiation that makes vision possible in the darkness the flare of a single match might be seen by enemy troops

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

flare

2 of 2

verb

as in to glow
to shine with a bright harsh light floodlights flaring into the forbidding empty spaces surrounding the prison

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of flare
Noun
The new rougelike option, which joins the co-op Legends mode that released last March, is called Most Wanted and will presumably add some The Binding of Isaac or Hades flare to Ghost of Yotei. — Mitch Wallace, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026 Yet Fed officials are sharply split over their next steps and inflation could tick higher in the coming months, particularly if fighting in the Middle East flares. — Christopher Rugaber, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2026
Verb
In fact, crude prices have declined since spiking last month when the ceasefire ended and fighting flared up again. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 14 Aug. 2026 The Russia and Ukraine conflict grinds into a fifth year; a new Fed chair settles in while tariff policy whipsaws through the courts; tensions with allies and adversaries alike continue to flare. — Nigel Morris, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for flare
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flare
  1. flurry
  2. burst
  3. glow
  4. burn
  5. outburst
  6. explosion
  7. glare
  8. flame
Noun
  • But Davis’s book is part of a flurry of statements and interviews that, investigators say, taken together amount to an admission he was involved in the murder.
    — Andy Rose, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Those conferences signed on and saved it from near death late last month after a flurry of negotiations.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of flurry
Noun
  • In little more than a year, Europe’s broadcasting sector has seen a burst of dealmaking that would have looked improbable a decade ago.
    — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The trick is to hold the can 8 to 10 inches away, and spray in short bursts.
    — Iman Balagam, Vogue, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of burst
Noun
  • While a thin sliver will remain illuminated by direct sunlight, most of the lunar surface will appear dramatically darkened with a subtle reddish-orange glow — reminiscent of a total lunar eclipse seen across North America on March 3.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026
  • There, all arms of the Walt Disney Company — the multiple studios, television, parks, streaming, gaming, music, and more — simultaneously bask in the glow of nostalgia and take the time to tease their future.
    — Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of glow
Verb
  • The family ran the rescue out of their New Hampshire house until a fatal fire burned it down in 2019.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Use the interactive map below to track current wildfire activity across Florida, including real-time locations, acreage burned, and containment status.
    — David Schutz, Sun Sentinel, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of burn
Noun
  • The outbursts helped relieve some pressure, but Nakashima tightened up as the prospect of making his first Masters 1000 final neared.
    — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
  • White left immediately after her 2 1/2-minute outburst ended without taking questions.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of outburst
Noun
  • Deadly fires, often linked to electrical faults or gas cylinder explosions, are common in India where investigators have frequently pointed to safety lapses and inadequate enforcement of fire regulations as contributing to recurring loss of life.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Hugo Weaving’s Frank Harkness, the nefarious birth father of agent River Cartwright (Jack Lowdon), also makes an appearance, and the trailer previews plenty of explosions, shootouts and even hand-to-hand combat.
    — Lisa de los Reyes, HollywoodReporter, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of explosion
Noun
  • This stellar companion is apparently a luminous star that has three times the mass of the sun but is so close to the far brighter supergiant that its light had been hidden in the glare all this time.
    — Phil Plait, Scientific American, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Even beneath the stark, soulless glare of studio lights, the Valen is instantly arresting.
    — Tim Pitt, Robb Report, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of glare
Verb
  • For one thing, the flaming robot arms also kept smashing into things.
    — Jesse Coburn, ProPublica, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Even Miami locals are guilty of thinking a tiny little cap will effectively shield their faces from the wrath of the flaming Florida sun.
    — Mariana Zapata, Travel + Leisure, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of flame

Phrases Containing flare

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flaps
flare
flared
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Cite this Entry

“Flare.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flare. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on flare

Nglish: Translation of flare for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about flare

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