flare (up) 1 of 2

verb

Definition of flare (up)next
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
2
as in to erupt
to develop suddenly and violently my allergies always flare up in the spring

Synonyms & Similar Words

flare-up

2 of 2

noun

ˈfler-ˌəp How to pronounce flare-up (audio)
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

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 (up)
Noun
Not only was there the initial flare-up, but now there were huge red scratches and hives. — Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2026 There have been verbal flare-ups in previous meetings between Medvedev and Tsitsipas down the years, including in the Australian Open semifinals in 2022. — ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026 Over the decades, as Shakur’s stature grew and evolved, there were flare-ups of media interest and theories but no conclusions or arrests. — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026 The sun’s intense flare-ups had put the telescope on a downward spiral faster than engineers anticipated. — Marcia Dunn, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for flare (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flare (up)
  1. anger
  2. erupt
  3. flurry
  4. explosion
  5. snarl
  6. explode
  7. burst
  8. outburst
Verb
  • But others, particularly in Missouri, have been concerned and angered to see that their bills will soon go up, the second price hike for this year.
    — Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Some like Bowdon are angered that Kennedy has yet to ban mRNA vaccines.
    — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of anger
Verb
  • And then the spontaneous cheers and shouts erupted as the aircraft, full of returning troops, lifted off the South Vietnam air strip.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 9 Nov. 2026
  • These were majestic art objects but in the hands of skilled puppeteers, the Sicilian marionettes shows could also erupt into wild, raw, bloodthirsty warfare.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of erupt
Noun
  • Beijing has hosted a flurry of global leaders this year, while major economies have struggled to slow a surge of imports from China.
    — Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Instead, the late-breaking 9th Circuit decisions spurred a flurry of confusion and conjecture just hours before polls were set to open in the country’s most populous state.
    — Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of flurry
Noun
  • The explosion killed him and fourteen others in his vicinity, as well as the assassin, and injured another forty-three.
    — Sonia Gandhi, Vanity Fair, 10 Nov. 2026
  • That prompted an explosion of vape shops, convenience stores and gas stations that sold hemp, with no regulations on the products or the age of consumers.
    — Olivia Olander, Chicago Tribune, 10 Nov. 2026
Definition of explosion
Verb
  • The westbound lanes of Interstate 30 were closed, snarling traffic for the morning commute as crews worked to clear the scene.
    — Briauna Brown, CBS News, 6 Nov. 2026
  • One person died and two others were taken to hospitals Thursday after a crash involving a big rig that snarled traffic on Highway 99 in Elk Grove.
    — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of snarl
Verb
  • Corn was king long before Zellwood exploded into commercial prosperity in the 1940s.
    — Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Nov. 2026
  • The minute Jontay took himself out of the game, a digital dye pack exploded all over their cash.
    — New Yorker, New Yorker, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of explode
Noun
  • The chemical and environmental engineers found a way to transform tough composite waste into high-value manufacturing materials using a brief burst of extreme heat.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Still a low-churn environment The burst of optimism, however, comes with some caveats.
    — Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of burst
Noun
  • In 2017, IceCube detected a neutrino that appeared to come from the direction of a quasar, known as TXS 0506+056, at the same time that a telescope detected an outburst of gamma radiation from that same object.
    — Yjan Gordon, The Conversation, 30 Oct. 2026
  • The fines could be rescinded if the coaches avoid sideline outbursts for the rest of the season, as the league calls for more civil interactions between coaches, players and officials.
    — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of outburst

Browse Nearby Words

flares (up)
flare (up)
flare-up
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Cite this Entry

“Flare (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flare%20%28up%29. Accessed 11 Nov. 2026.

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