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
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Recent Examples of flare-ups
Ultraviolet therapy paired with certain oral medications can reduce skin flare-ups.
—
Carrie Madormo, Health, 18 May 2026
Indoor air quality concerns spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic and have stayed top of mind through wildfire seasons and allergy flare-ups — making the best hepa air purifier search one of the most common questions home shoppers ask.
—Ryan Brennan
may 18, Kansas City Star, 18 May 2026
Efforts to end the Iran war, now in its third month, appeared stalled amid new flare-ups in fighting in the Gulf.
—Guy Faulconbridge, USA Today, 9 May 2026
Trump also sought to minimize the flare-ups, but declined to define precisely what would constitute a violation of the ceasefire.
—Nik Popli, Time, 5 May 2026
There were no more real flare-ups — just Detroit (59-22) dominating the Hornets like a big brother dominating a little brother in a game of one-on-one.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 11 Apr. 2026
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
For others with the condition, flare-ups can involve additional symptoms that are extremely painful or even debilitating.
—Korin Miller, SELF, 31 Mar. 2026
Carrie Madormo, Health, 18 May 2026
Indoor air quality concerns spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic and have stayed top of mind through wildfire seasons and allergy flare-ups — making the best hepa air purifier search one of the most common questions home shoppers ask.
—Ryan Brennan
may 18, Kansas City Star, 18 May 2026
Efforts to end the Iran war, now in its third month, appeared stalled amid new flare-ups in fighting in the Gulf.
—Guy Faulconbridge, USA Today, 9 May 2026
Trump also sought to minimize the flare-ups, but declined to define precisely what would constitute a violation of the ceasefire.
—Nik Popli, Time, 5 May 2026
There were no more real flare-ups — just Detroit (59-22) dominating the Hornets like a big brother dominating a little brother in a game of one-on-one.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 11 Apr. 2026
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
For others with the condition, flare-ups can involve additional symptoms that are extremely painful or even debilitating.
—Korin Miller, SELF, 31 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flare-ups
Noun
-
The latest flurries that dusted parts of the Sierra Nevada this week are unlikely to do much to ease California’s snow drought.—
Chaewon Chung,
Sacbee.com,
22 Apr. 2026
-
As the rain and snow fall, flurries can melt, mix together and refreeze just before hitting the ground, according to Jackson Macfarlane, a meteorologist with the weather service’s Boise office.—
Hali Smith
April 14,
Idaho Statesman,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Herrero also sought to use practical effects throughout the film, including gunfire and explosions, often enhanced with visual effects.—
Ed Meza,
Variety,
16 May 2026
-
Rubin, with the exquisite detail of its images, is well placed to find these types of events, in which stars disappear in explosions that can be too faint for other surveys to see.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
There are four virus strains known to cause Ebola disease in humans, and three have caused large outbreaks (Zaire, Sudan, and Bundibugyo).—
Beth Mole,
ArsTechnica,
18 May 2026
-
Why This Ebola Outbreak Is More Concerning Past Congo outbreaks including the catastrophic 2018 to 2020 epidemic that killed nearly 2,300 people were caused by the Zaire strain of Ebola.—
Jesse Pines,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
Even their coach embodies a respectful, reflective male ideal and disciplines his athletes rather than celebrating them for outbursts of anger.—
Anna Rinderspacher,
Glamour,
20 May 2026
-
Even Republicans, who usually feigned ignorance about the President’s social-media outbursts, were weighing in.—
Jason Zengerle,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
The discordant, Bernard Herrmann-esque bursts of María Portugal’s rich score ratchet up the suspense and foreboding.—
Sheri Linden,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2026
-
We were immediately greeted by a resplendence of wildflowers, including purple-pink woolly bluecurls, bright orange southern bush monkey flower, red bursts of cardinal catchfly and at least one Catalina Mariposa lily.—
Jaclyn Cosgrove,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
For Sandra Hüller, eruptions of emotion don’t come naturally.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 May 2026
-
Beyond eruptions and lava fields, the park also has miles of trails, native flora and fauna, as well as sacred petroglyphs.—
Kait Hanson,
Travel + Leisure,
16 May 2026
Noun
-
Southampton’s team arrived at St Mary’s amid a sea of red smoke from the flares lit by the thousands of fans who had lined the street to greet them.—
Dan Sheldon,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
-
Both agencies agree there is a chance for additional M flares and maybe even X-class eruptions over the coming days as sunspot regions AR4436 and AR4432 continue to evolve.—
Daisy Dobrijevic,
Space.com,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
Against average or below-average defenses, Rodgers was typically good, sometimes even showing flashes of his old brilliance.—
Mike DeFabo,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
-
Indeed, the only shooting victims shown (in several devastating flashes) are the heart of the film’s insoluble sorrows.—
Sophie Monks Kaufman,
IndieWire,
16 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flare-ups.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flare-ups. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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