1
as in to anger
to become very angry
naturally I flared up when he insulted me
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in flurry
a sudden and usually temporary growth of activity
took medication to prevent a flare-up of her asthma
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in explosion
a sudden intense expression of strong feeling
there's no need for an angry flare-up, as we'll take care of the problem immediately
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of flare (up)
Luca Evans, Denver Post, 26 May 2026
Grills naturally have hot spots, cooler areas, flare-ups, and uneven heat.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 22 May 2026
Ultraviolet therapy paired with certain oral medications can reduce skin flare-ups.
—Carrie Madormo, Health, 18 May 2026
Indoor air quality concerns spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic and have stayed top of mind through wildfire seasons and allergy flare-ups — making the best hepa air purifier search one of the most common questions home shoppers ask.
—Ryan Brennan
may 18, Kansas City Star, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for flare (up)
Noun
The string of flare-ups completely bucked the momentum of the 2025 third-round pick’s rookie season, as Bryant was establishing himself as a near-irreplaceable piece in Denver’s offense.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 26 May 2026
Grills naturally have hot spots, cooler areas, flare-ups, and uneven heat.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 22 May 2026
Ultraviolet therapy paired with certain oral medications can reduce skin flare-ups.
—Carrie Madormo, Health, 18 May 2026
Indoor air quality concerns spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic and have stayed top of mind through wildfire seasons and allergy flare-ups — making the best hepa air purifier search one of the most common questions home shoppers ask.
—Ryan Brennan
may 18, Kansas City Star, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for flare (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flare (up)
Verb
-
Atletico were angered by Barcelona’s long pursuit of Antoine Griezmann, which saw Griezmann decide to stay in summer 2018 but move to the Camp Nou twelve months later.—
Ali Rampling,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
-
Claude Lemieux, a four-time Stanley Cup champion whose ferocious, hard-hitting style of play angered opponents and sometimes overshadowed his prodigious skills and ability to deliver in the biggest games, has died after taking his own life, according to authorities.—
Stephen Whyno,
Los Angeles Times,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
With California facing increasingly destructive wildfires, experts and officials have long urged the strategic removal of dense, flammable vegetation that can erupt into particularly destructive flames from a lightning bolt or the spark of a power line.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2026
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So Arsenal wasn't even playing on May 19, when a tie in a match between Manchester City and AFC Bournemouth meant the overall math ensured the Gunners' victory — and North London erupted into a sea of red Arsenal jerseys.—
Lauren Frayer,
NPR,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
Eastern Ukraine — There is a whirr, a flurry of dust, a pause as the grainy image recalibrates, and then a devastating blast.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
30 May 2026
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The checkup came amid mounting scrutiny of the president's health, particularly given recent flurries of late-night social media posts, as well as his at-times tired demeanor during official meetings.—
Zachary Schermele,
USA Today,
30 May 2026
Noun
-
The larger and more immediate risk came from the possible explosion.—
Jason Henry,
Oc Register,
30 May 2026
-
The chemical behind the explosion — ammonium nitrate — is not regulated under RMP.—
Evan Bush,
NBC news,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
Simultaneously, a second scene unfolded at North Avenue Beach, where another large crowd snarled traffic on the road.—
Desmon Yancy,
Chicago Tribune,
2 June 2026
-
The protest snarled public transit.—
Kevin Lozano,
Harpers Magazine,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
America’s national parks shine in the summertime, with spectacular mountain passes thawed for the season, sparkling lakes and glittering beaches at the peak of their allure, and blankets of wildflowers exploding into bloom.—
Jessica Puckett,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 June 2026
-
However, a primordial black hole born with a mass of just 1 ton would immediately explode, instantly reaching the Planck mass.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
3 June 2026
Noun
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Eventually, the blister bursts, releasing uranium hydride powder and exposing fresh metal that accelerates the reaction.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
31 May 2026
-
The record shows bursts of three to five sessions a week broken by long gaps.—
Paul Baier,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
Noun
-
Tyler Freeman tacked on an RBI single and Goodman capped the outburst with his 14th homer — a three-run drive over the left-field wall.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
2 June 2026
-
The outburst completely erased the five-run deficit and gave KU a 6-5 lead.—
Gary Bedore,
Kansas City Star,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flare (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flare%20%28up%29. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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