1
as in to anger
to become very angry
naturally I flared up when he insulted me
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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, 31 July 2025
Both sides have accused the other of starting the latest border flare-up and traded blame for the ongoing fighting, which has killed at least 35 people and injured more than 200, according to figures from Thai and Cambodian officials.
—Kocha Olarn, CNN Money, 28 July 2025
The last major flare-up centered on the Preah Vihear temple, a longstanding flashpoint dating back to the French colonial era.
—Bloomberg News, Boston Herald, 26 July 2025
Graphic: Alex Ford / NBC News The temple’s listing as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2008 prompted another flare-up.
—Mithil Aggarwal, NBC news, 25 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for flare (up)
Noun
But if Greenlaw’s flare-up lingers, the only rotational options left are undrafted rookies Jordan Turner, JB Brown and Karene Reid.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 31 July 2025
Both sides have accused the other of starting the latest border flare-up and traded blame for the ongoing fighting, which has killed at least 35 people and injured more than 200, according to figures from Thai and Cambodian officials.
—Kocha Olarn, CNN Money, 28 July 2025
The last major flare-up centered on the Preah Vihear temple, a longstanding flashpoint dating back to the French colonial era.
—Bloomberg News, Boston Herald, 26 July 2025
Graphic: Alex Ford / NBC News The temple’s listing as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2008 prompted another flare-up.
—Mithil Aggarwal, NBC news, 25 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for flare (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flare (up)
Verb
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In light of Collins recently being hospitalized for knee surgery, his fans were actually jarred and angered by an AI image of McCartney supposedly visiting him under far more dire circumstances.—
David Browne,
Rolling Stone,
11 Aug. 2025
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Meanwhile, Russia stood back when Azerbaijan reclaimed control of Karabakh in the September 2023 offensive, angering Armenia, which has moved to shed Russian influence and turn westward.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
9 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Although the bit, which was filled with a series of absurd interpretative dances, made the audience erupt with laughter, the actress was genuinely touched by the honor.—
Vivian Kwarm,
New York Daily News,
6 Aug. 2025
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Martin has been trying to put out fires in the Democratic civil war that erupted over Mamdani’s shock victory on June 24.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The exec’s comments came after the company made a flurry of ESPN announcements, including a landmark deal with the NFL to swap equity for control of NFL Media assets.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
6 Aug. 2025
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Since most of the agency’s old guard departed in a flurry of resignations more than a year ago, SANDAG’s new leaders have moved to make many of the outstanding reforms called for by auditors, a new report finds.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Aug. 2025
Noun
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There's also been an explosion of machine identities, known as non-human identities (NHIs), that enterprises have to contend with.—
TK Keanini,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
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The rapper and actor, whose real name is Scott Mescudi, was subpoenaed by federal prosecutors and was required to testify against the Bad Boy Records founder in regards to a home invasion and car explosion allegedly linked to Combs.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The heavy rains are turning the evening commute into a nightmare, as flooding conditions necessitated the closure of several popular routes in and out of the city Thursday afternoon, while traffic was snarled on the LIRR.—
Roni Jacobson,
New York Daily News,
31 July 2025
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What might have been a mundane summer rainstorm at one time led to flooding that killed at least two people, destroyed property and snarled travel across three states.—
Mark Gongloff,
Mercury News,
23 July 2025
Verb
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Charles Nelson had just gotten out the door on his way to a concert in Millennium Park Monday afternoon when gunfire exploded up his South Side block.—
Tess Kenny,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Aug. 2025
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Yolo County top health official declared Monday a local health emergency to assess if hazardous material spread across soil, water and crops bordering an Esparto warehouse filled with fireworks that exploded in July and killed seven people.—
Ishani Desai,
Sacbee.com,
11 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Love planet Venus will enter Leo on Aug. 25, adding a dazzling burst of glamour and passion, followed by harmonious aspects to Saturn, Uranus and Neptune on Aug. 25 and 26, making romantic themes equally grounding and liberating.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
7 Aug. 2025
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And all of this came during a sustained burst of fiction writing that Woolf—whose work had been derailed by mental breakdowns and spells of illness—relished.—
Hillary Kelly,
The Atlantic,
5 Aug. 2025
Noun
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As the other undefeated team, Canada outscored its three opponents 19-4, but had to rely on some third-period outbursts to run up those offensive numbers.—
Carol Schram,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
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This was no isolated outburst, but part of a broader effort to delegitimize conservative participation in academic life.—
Ilya Shapiro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Flare (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flare%20%28up%29. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.
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