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)
Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 8 Apr. 2026
Going gluten-free doesn't always help with IBS 🍞 Some people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) find that certain foods with gluten trigger flare-ups.
—Abby Norman, Verywell Health, 6 Apr. 2026
That got a brief rise out of Heinen, but the flare-up quickly faded.
—Aaron Portzline, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2026
For others with the condition, flare-ups can involve additional symptoms that are extremely painful or even debilitating.
—Korin Miller, SELF, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flare (up)
Noun
Scientists’ best solar models presently struggle to precisely predict flare-ups on our own, most familiar star.
—Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 8 Apr. 2026
Going gluten-free doesn't always help with IBS 🍞 Some people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) find that certain foods with gluten trigger flare-ups.
—Abby Norman, Verywell Health, 6 Apr. 2026
That got a brief rise out of Heinen, but the flare-up quickly faded.
—Aaron Portzline, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2026
For others with the condition, flare-ups can involve additional symptoms that are extremely painful or even debilitating.
—Korin Miller, SELF, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flare (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flare (up)
Verb
-
Separate blockades from haulers and farmers angered by the rising diesel prices have also shut down large swathes of the country’s highways, causing five days of disruption.—
Dalia Abdelwahab,
CNN Money,
11 Apr. 2026
-
The mayor's threat to raise property taxes unless Albany agrees to tax the rich angered City Council Speaker Julie Menin.—
Marcia Kramer,
CBS News,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Crews made fast work of a 10-acre fire that erupted in brush in the vicinity of the SoCal Sports complex and Frontwave Arena in Oceanside, briefly prompting an order that people in the area shelter in place Friday.—
Teri Figueroa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
-
One of the defendant’s friends had a conversation with Velasquez that erupted into a brawl before the defendant charged at the victim and opened fire, the prosecutor said.—
City News Service,
Oc Register,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The Public Service Commission has approved a flurry of rate hikes in recent years as private utilities grapple with maintaining profits while improving infrastructure in a mountainous, sparsely populated state.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2026
-
The latest adaptation of the action video game series is uppercutting its way into theaters, kicking off the summer blockbuster season with a flurry of powerful punches.—
Christopher Rudolph,
PEOPLE,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
After a faulty cooling system was left to disrepair, rising temperatures resulted in an explosion with the equivalent force of 70-100 tons of TNT.—
Kurt Snibbe,
Oc Register,
25 Apr. 2026
-
To locals, Soviet leaders seemed to be downplaying the severity of the explosion.—
Lizzie Johnson,
New Yorker,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The storm is expected to snarl roads into the Sierra Nevada, and require motorists to put chains on their tires.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Apr. 2026
-
Crashes involving about 70 vehicles snarled a section of a snowy Colorado highway and sent eight people to the hospital.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Either way, these early flowering plants explode with gorgeous color in spring and attract early season bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.—
Lauren Landers,
The Spruce,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Dancing with the Stars exploded in popularity last season, raking in its largest audience in years driven by interest from younger viewers.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The verdant burst is always welcome after a dreary winter, and the bright, fresh flavors of spring vegetables are like a breath of fresh air on the table, too.—
Becky Krystal,
Washington Post,
20 Apr. 2026
-
The Thunder took control with an early 17-2 burst.—
Doug Haller,
New York Times,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
This time, there wasn’t nearly as long of a gap between scoring outbursts.—
Steve Millar,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Director Matt Pfeiffer tries not to tie it too strongly to an extreme light or dark mood but does keep up a snappy pace, plays most of the angriest outbursts for laughs and takes good advantage of the openness of the Playhouse on Park stage area.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
21 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flare (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flare%20%28up%29. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
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