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)
Ben Smith, semafor.com, 2 Jan. 2026
Eczema-prone skin requires gentle, fragrance-free formulas that won't trigger flare-ups.
—Jailynn Taylor, Allure, 1 Jan. 2026
Saudi authorities did not immediately comment on the UAE’s decision, but the episode marks a significant flare-up between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, as relationship between the region’s tightest partners grows increasingly strained.
—Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 30 Dec. 2025
Today, tariffs are distorting international trade, conflict is raging with Russia’s war on Ukraine, there have been flare-ups between Israel and Iran and the US is seizing oil tankers off the coast of Venezuela.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 25 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flare (up)
Noun
Gulf stocks fall over Saudi-UAE tensions Gulf stock indexes fell on Tuesday over escalating tensions between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, though the flare-up didn’t dent oil markets.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 2 Jan. 2026
Eczema-prone skin requires gentle, fragrance-free formulas that won't trigger flare-ups.
—Jailynn Taylor, Allure, 1 Jan. 2026
Saudi authorities did not immediately comment on the UAE’s decision, but the episode marks a significant flare-up between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, as relationship between the region’s tightest partners grows increasingly strained.
—Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 30 Dec. 2025
Today, tariffs are distorting international trade, conflict is raging with Russia’s war on Ukraine, there have been flare-ups between Israel and Iran and the US is seizing oil tankers off the coast of Venezuela.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 25 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flare (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flare (up)
Verb
-
With an economy that is persistently reliant on crude, pursuing policies that raise energy costs risks angering constituents.—
Justin Worland,
Time,
9 Jan. 2026
-
The board instead approved a resolution to reexamine current campus spaces, angering some parents.—
Imani Cruzen,
Twin Cities,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Protests have erupted in American cities since.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Near the airport, some confrontations erupted on Thursday and Friday between smaller groups of protesters and agents guarding the federal building used as a base for the Twin Cities crackdown.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The 50-year mortgage proposal came amid a flurry of posts from Pulte, a member of one of America’s most prominent homebuilding families, who was fresh off a Friday appearance at ResiDay, a residential real estate conference hosted by ResiClub.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Prospect Avenue was renamed Hollywood Boulevard, and a flurry of tony hotels, palatial theaters and glitzy boutiques opened along the stretch between Vine Street and Highland Avenue.—
Oren Peleg,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Local media also reported that several explosions were heard before the fire began.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Jonathan Taylor’s offensive explosion helped push the Indianapolis Colts past the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday in the first NFL regular-season game in Berlin, 31-25, in overtime.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
On Thursday, high winds pushed over a tractor trailer on the southbound lanes of the 5 Freeway near Pyramid Lake, snarling traffic for several miles.—
Summer Lin,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Television cameras caught Adebayo snarling dismissively.—
Jon Krawczynski,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The popularity of sporting events in Greater Miami and Miami Beach has exploded in recent years, and the destination is now an essential part of many international sporting circuits.—
Condé Nast Traveler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Two years later, the police-community relations issue would explode with global reverberations when George Floyd was murdered by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who had kneeled on Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes.—
Marc Ramirez,
USA Today,
10 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
-
As 6-7 went viral, teachers complained that random outbursts by their students were interrupting their lessons.—
Rebekah Willett,
Fortune,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Kerr, who was ejected in the loss to the Clippers, was not worried about how the league or his players would react to his outburst.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flare (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flare%20%28up%29. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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