flare-ups

noun

plural of flare-up
1
as in flurries
a sudden and usually temporary growth of activity took medication to prevent a flare-up of her asthma

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in explosions
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-ups Oil prices have been on a rollercoaster this year, oscillating as traders react to flare-ups in fighting and monitor oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. — John Towfighi, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2026 And the price of oil breached the $100 threshold, for the first time in months, as the new flare-ups stoked fresh concern for global energy markets. — Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 9 Sep. 2026 Dobber also pointed to growing concerns about air pollution and wildfire smoke as factors that can damage the lungs and increase the risk of COPD and disease flare-ups. — Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 8 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 Here is what the data shows and how clinicians suggest managing nighttime flare-ups. — Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Sep. 2026 Black-and-white news footage shows volunteer firefighters swatting flames with tree branches and dousing flare-ups with flower-pot watering cans. — Michael Finnegan, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026 Crews from across Texas are continuing to work alongside local firefighters to strengthen containment lines and prevent flare-ups. — Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026 After multiple flare-ups and suggestions of an imminent accord, there do not appear to be any concrete plans to end the 24-week war. — August 17, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flare-ups
  1. flurries
  2. explosions
  3. outbreaks
  4. outbursts
  5. bursts
  6. eruptions
  7. flares
  8. flashes
Noun
  • Chelsea spent long stretches of the first half in survival mode as Arsenal roared onto the front foot after that shock opener, conjuring furious flurries of pressure from open play and set pieces.
    — Liam Twomey, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Our arrival in the Madawaska River country of eastern Ontario, near Combermere, was noteworthy only for the snow flurries and marrow-chilling gales that howled down from Hudson Bay to greet us.
    — HARRY H. EDEL, Outdoor Life, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of flurries
Noun
  • The resulting detonations will result in explosions, flashes of light and clouds of smoke visible from a distance, the Navy said.
    — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 9 Sep. 2026
  • One resident, Iryna Barisenkova, recalled hearing loud explosions while traveling on public transport.
    — Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of explosions
Noun
  • The pediatric outbreaks that get flagged don't reflect the true gravity of the HIV crisis, public health experts warn.
    — Betsy Joles, NPR, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The birds face mounting threats, including entanglement in fishing nets, plastic pollution, disease outbreaks and competition with fisheries for food.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of outbreaks
Noun
  • There have also been repeated public outbursts from Diomansy Kamara, Sarr’s agent, about Palace’s handling of his client while Sarr himself removed all references to Palace on his social media platforms.
    — Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Such criticism formed a fault line that ran from the cultural commentary of the ’20s to the outbursts of Beats, folkies, and academics in the ’50s.
    — Jake Lundberg, The Atlantic, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of outbursts
Noun
  • And the 27-inch display bursts with gorgeous contrast and colors.
    — George Yang, PC Magazine, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Inside, you’re greeted with fireworks; more than 30,000 crystals hang from a chandelier, forming a dozen bursts of light.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of bursts
Noun
  • Seeing the Braves compete in this series with the Dodgers, from the walk-off win to the ace performances to the timely snags to Truist Park’s eruptions, hearkened back memories of October 2021.
    — Gabriel Burns, AJC.com, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Mann said that the study doesn't have a complete record of corals over the past 1,000 years, and also that his research has shown that volcanic eruptions have played more of a role than climate change in past El Niño events.
    — Doyle Rice, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of eruptions
Noun
  • Antimony strengthens ammunition and armor and supports military technologies, including night-vision systems and flares.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 27 Aug. 2026
  • They are classified from A to X, with M-class flares ranking as the second-strongest category.
    — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of flares
Noun
  • But to overhaul Antonelli, Ferrari will need a return to the strong team performance and precise execution shown only in flashes of this season.
    — Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • The main colors here are black and white, with flashes of red and blue.
    — Hilton Als, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of flashes

Browse Nearby Words

flare-up
flare-ups
flaring
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Cite this Entry

“Flare-ups.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flare-ups. Accessed 11 Sep. 2026.

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