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)
Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 3 Feb. 2026
Authorities in the southwestern province are battling one of the deadliest flare-ups in years, as insurgents in the resource-rich province bordering Iran and Afghanistan step up assaults on security forces, civilians and infrastructure.
—Reuters, NBC news, 1 Feb. 2026
Yet the relationship is still fraught with tension regarding longstanding territorial dispute; the most recent flare-up happened after an Indian citizen born in Arunachal Pradesh, which China claims as its territory, was detained in Shanghai’s airport for 18 hours.
—Brian Wong, Fortune, 31 Jan. 2026
Days are pockmarked with flare-ups and altercations between federal agents and residents.
—Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 24 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flare (up)
Noun
This can create a sudden flare-up, increasing the risk of fire.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 3 Feb. 2026
Authorities in the southwestern province are battling one of the deadliest flare-ups in years, as insurgents in the resource-rich province bordering Iran and Afghanistan step up assaults on security forces, civilians and infrastructure.
—Reuters, NBC news, 1 Feb. 2026
Yet the relationship is still fraught with tension regarding longstanding territorial dispute; the most recent flare-up happened after an Indian citizen born in Arunachal Pradesh, which China claims as its territory, was detained in Shanghai’s airport for 18 hours.
—Brian Wong, Fortune, 31 Jan. 2026
Days are pockmarked with flare-ups and altercations between federal agents and residents.
—Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 24 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flare (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flare (up)
Verb
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But every time Trump takes to social media, angered by drug trafficking – or drone incursions, Sheinbaum Pardo has deftly reminded him of their working partnership, Jacobson said.—
Lauren Villagran,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 2026
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In one of those realities (the actual one most of us are living in), a growing number of people across the political spectrum are angered, terrified and disgusted by actions being taken in their names by people and agencies which seem to have little or no accountability.—
Brenda Looper,
Arkansas Online,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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News of the possible project erupted last month after reports emerged that the federal government was eyeing the large, empty warehouse in a south Kansas City industrial park for an immigration detention center with thousands of beds.—
Chris Higgins,
Kansas City Star,
13 Feb. 2026
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Violence erupted in Kansas in 1854, not over fugitive slaves but over the prospect of slavery taking hold there.—
Jake Lundberg,
The Atlantic,
12 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Her voice is intimate and resonant, whether cut up into indistinct background flurries or pushed to the front of the mix.—
Alex Robert Ross,
Pitchfork,
13 Feb. 2026
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The idea has spawned a flurry of products which are helping their customers resist the temptation of automatically picking up their phone and scrolling social media during any and every lull in the day.—
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez,
Fortune,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
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In a news conference Friday, a spokesperson for the Pest County Police Headquarters said an explosion in one of the rooms likely caused the fire.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Feb. 2026
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Some parents told the Tribune that pandemic-era growth seems to have set off a snowball effect, fueled by an explosion of online and at-home learning resources.—
Kate Armanini,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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For months, projects on some of the metro area's major highways and thoroughfares, including Interstates 64 and 265 and surface streets like Brownsboro Road, have forced drivers to find alternate routes and deal with longer travel times as construction has snarled traffic across town and beyond.—
Stephanie Stremplewski,
Louisville Courier Journal,
15 Feb. 2026
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Last fall, during a 43-day shutdown over expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies, Democrats ultimately relented after public frustration mounted and airport travel snarled ahead of Thanksgiving.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Since then, the fizzy dance challenge has exploded on TikTok, with tons of fans re-creating the clip’s silly dance moves in their kitchens, parking garages, living rooms, Times Square and hospital corridors.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
18 Feb. 2026
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Red fireworks are then seen exploding over the bridge.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
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There has been some speculation that Lagrange’s future could be as a reliever, which would let his electric arsenal play up in bursts.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
15 Feb. 2026
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Consistency triumphs over bursts of brilliance.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The next day, standing below the balcony of the Lorraine Motel where the team was staying in Memphis, King yelled down at Jackson in joviality, as if to mitigate the outburst, inviting him to dinner.—
Johanna Neuman,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Feb. 2026
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Tyra Banks finally responded to her now-viral outburst against America's Next Top Model contestant Tiffany Richardson in a new documentary looking back at the show.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
16 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flare (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flare%20%28up%29. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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