1
as in flurry
a sudden and usually temporary growth of activity
a flare in gift card sales around graduation time
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
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
Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 20 Jan. 2026
Everyone knows lacy camis have always been cute and low-rise flares come and go with the tides; there is no bravery in sourcing these items for your millennial college show.
—Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 20 Jan. 2026
Chantelle Lee, Time, 8 Jan. 2026
As measles outbreaks flared up across the US last year, causing a record number of cases, Scott Thorpe kept a wary eye on Spartanburg County, South Carolina.
—Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flare
Noun
On Monday afternoon, the sun slugged the Earth with a massive flare, landing its most powerful energetic punch since the Great Halloween Storm of 2003.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 20 Jan. 2026
Everyone knows lacy camis have always been cute and low-rise flares come and go with the tides; there is no bravery in sourcing these items for your millennial college show.
—Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 20 Jan. 2026
Verb
Tensions have flared in Minneapolis in the wake of the fatal shooting of a 37-year-old woman by a federal immigration agent, as protests have mounted and erupted into clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement officers.
—Chantelle Lee, Time, 8 Jan. 2026
As measles outbreaks flared up across the US last year, causing a record number of cases, Scott Thorpe kept a wary eye on Spartanburg County, South Carolina.
—Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flare
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flare
Noun
-
Beijing has responded with a flurry of economic pressure, including cutting flights and warning citizens against traveling to Japan.—
Chris Lau,
CNN Money,
25 Jan. 2026
-
Newport Harbor ended the first period with another flurry.—
Dan Albano,
Oc Register,
25 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The only constant is Mount Etna, looming off to one side, at times sputtering out smoke, ash, and short bursts of lava.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Jan. 2026
-
And yet, two-thirds into the song’s six-minute lurch, a beaming synth line appears like a biblical burst of light, a plea for sanctuary from perpetual chaos.—
Stuart Berman,
Pitchfork,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Hop in a kayak to catch a glimpse of the enchanting, blue-green glow of the Bioluminescent Bay (which claims to have the brightest bioluminescence in the world), sunbathe on Vieques’s pristine beaches, or marvel at the wild horses that roam around the Vieques National Wildlife Refuge.—
Brittany Chang,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Best Clothing Deals Airport outfits just got a glow-up.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Melody Townsend was convicted after the body of her daughter, Ana Marie Townsend, was found by first responders wrapped in plastic inside the attic of a burned, abandoned home in the 15400 block of Hamlin Avenue in Markham in 2017.—
Jeramie Bizzle,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
When James Watt improved steam engine efficiency, factories did not burn the same amount of coal to do the same work.—
Jon Markman,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The film shows how Davidson, with the help of friends played by Maxine Peake and Peter Mullan — the latter who is nominated in BAFTA’s Supporting Actor category — learned how to try and control his outbursts.—
Baz Bamigboye,
Deadline,
27 Jan. 2026
-
No one was hurt, but the tour decided post-match to forfeit the Arnold/Emmrich team for the outburst.—
Todd Boss,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Video footage that appeared to be taken at the scene captured loud blasts and the sky glowing following explosions that began around midnight and lasted about two hours in the area of Diori Hamani International Airport.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
31 Jan. 2026
-
An explosion was reported at a metal fabricating plant on Thursday night in Pennsylvania, according to officials.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Under the roof — with the glare gone, the temperature easing across the third and fourth sets and the radiated heat from the court plummeting — the momentum swung.—
John Pye,
Baltimore Sun,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Originally a bright photography studio with skylights, the room was transformed into a low-light space to eliminate glare on the digital screens and Wacom tablets used for ZBrush sculpting.—
Robert Lang,
Deadline,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Allison’s husband, Rich Statter, quickly stepped in and grabbed his wife's flaming hair, putting out the fire with his hands.—
Escher Walcott,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
-
The luxury Swiss Alps nightclub where at least 40 people were killed and nearly 120 others were injured in a New Year’s Eve inferno, had previously released a promotional video advertising flaming champagne bottles, which authorities deemed the cause of the tragedy.—
Emma Bussey , Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
2 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flare.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flare. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
