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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
Meanwhile, left tackle Rashawn Slater, who missed all of last season after sustaining a knee injury in training camp, was sidelined for much of August because of a flare-up to that same knee. — Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026 This means that the duration and severity of acne flare-ups may be shorter and less severe. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 4 Sep. 2026 The four-time MVP has not pitched in a game since July and has clearly been battling left knee inflammation and occasional flare-ups of right biceps discomfort for months. — Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026 Here is what the data shows and how clinicians suggest managing nighttime flare-ups. — Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 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 Trump’s solution, to import 300,000 metric tons of beef and sell it at a reduced cost, angered American ranchers.
    — Sarah Henry, AZCentral.com, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Rebecca regrets angering Matthijs (Matteo van der Grijn) after putting his daughter in the middle of a heated discussion around the possibility of Matthijs moving to London.
    — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of anger
Verb
  • Anak Krakatau has erupted since late ⁠on Friday, with volcanic ash detected at the airport early on Sunday, the ​ministry said in a statement.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2026
  • As Morris hit the ground and the 57,000-plus yellow-and-green glad fans inside Autzen Stadium erupted, the Broncos’ fate was sealed.
    — Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of erupt
Noun
  • After a flurry of fall festival activity in Venice and Telluride, the curtain is coming down on another year at TIFF.
    — Marlow Stern, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026
  • But a flurry of new contracts in 2026 has two more coaches on par with Reid and another pair knocking at the door of $20 million, based on a half-dozen conversations with those familiar with NFL coaching contracts.
    — Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of flurry
Noun
  • Among the most destructive munitions in Western military arsenals, an MK-84 explosion sends metal fragments in every direction for thousands of feet, can rip through metal and thick concrete, and often creates large craters in the earth.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Sep. 2026
  • The supervisor also will have a say in the county’s defense against a multimillion-dollar lawsuit stemming from the deadly 2025 Esparto fireworks explosion.
    — Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of explosion
Verb
  • The pipeline has been relied upon to transport production from the Persian Gulf as transit through the Strait of Hormuz remains snarled.
    — Harvey Stober, CNBC, 14 Sep. 2026
  • That, plus some afternoon thunderstorms, snarled airport operations on Sunday evening.
    — Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 13 Sep. 2026
Definition of snarl
Verb
  • The match was instead a battle of strategy and focus, and a test of which player could execute her shots best under pressure, amid the excited buzz of a crowd waiting for reasons to explode.
    — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • The cost of living for middle class families for average Americans is exploding.
    — NBC news, NBC news, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of explode
Noun
  • That flexibility makes flow batteries particularly relevant to long-duration storage, where systems may need to deliver electricity for several hours rather than simply provide short bursts of backup power.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 12 Sep. 2026
  • Could Civale maybe be used in shorter bursts, meaning he could be used more often?
    — Sahadev Sharma, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of burst
Noun
  • His dismissal wasn’t so much the result of one outburst or misstep, the person told The Times, but the culmination of a season’s worth of issues that boiled over in the wake of the Nebraska loss.
    — Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Tristan Peters fouled off 12 pitches in an 18-pitch at-bat that keyed Chicago's six-run outburst in the sixth inning and the White Sox beat the Cleveland Guardians 7-3 on Monday night to stay atop the AL Central.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 15 Sep. 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 19 Sep. 2026.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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