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

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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 In France, firefighters in the region around Bordeaux guarded against potential flare-ups inside a still-burning scar four times the size of Paris. — Derek Gatopoulos, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2026 Geopolitical flare-ups in the Middle East are disrupting supply chains. — Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 3 Aug. 2026 Authorities reported only ⁠minor flare-ups in the southwestern Gironde area and said the blaze in the southeastern Var department had not spread overnight. — Reuters, NBC news, 2 Aug. 2026 Several flare-ups near Le Porge and Cap Ferret were brought under control by firefighters. — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 28 July 2026 High burner heat, flare-ups, and boil-overs can all cause dark burn marks that take your pot from eye-catching to worn and lackluster. — Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 25 July 2026 However, this period was not tension-free, with occasional flare-ups of hostilities along the border. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 July 2026 Indoor pollution can trigger severe flare-ups in kids with allergies or asthma. — Dr. Lauren Zajac, Boston Herald, 19 July 2026 From dealing with symptom flare-ups and unrelenting fatigue to following strict medication schedules, managing a health condition that no one in your circle relates to can be incredibly isolating. — Katie Camero, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 July 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
  • The past 14 years have included some flurries of diplomatic contact between Iran and the West.
    — Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026
  • There is even a remote possibility for a few flurries in the highest peaks of the Sierra on Saturday and Sunday nights with temps briefly below freezing.
    — Sean Macaday, Sacbee.com, 26 June 2026
Definition of flurries
Noun
  • Residents described hearing explosions believed to be blasts from the old shells, authorities said.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 Aug. 2026
  • If the gas nozzle became clogged or leaked, pockets of concentrated acetylene could build up and ignite, causing localized explosions.
    — Matthew MacConnell, ArsTechnica, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of explosions
Noun
  • No products have been linked to the other outbreaks, including one that has sickened 115 people.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • The outbreaks connected to backyard poultry involve 814 people in 44 states.
    — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of outbreaks
Noun
  • He was ousted from Dior and his namesake fashion house in 2011 following racist and antisemitic outbursts at a Paris bar.
    — Miles Socha, Footwear News, 31 July 2026
  • Therapy that helped him make friends and control outbursts caused by Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has nearly disappeared, Garcia said.
    — Larry Seward, CBS News, 31 July 2026
Definition of outbursts
Noun
  • Solar storms are energy bursts from the sun that can contribute to strong auroral showings, several of which occurred in 2024, when the sun reached the peak of its 11-year solar cycle, marking a 500-year high in auroral activity.
    — Antonio Pequeño IV, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Both of these carry the signatures of creative openings, bursts of genius, and new ideas being generated.
    — Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 July 2026
Definition of bursts
Noun
  • That means a huge number of eruptions happen mostly out of sight.
    — Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 31 July 2026
  • The current series of Kilauea eruptions began in December 2024.
    — Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 29 July 2026
Definition of eruptions
Noun
  • Senior leadership from Pakistan and Turkey departed for Saudi Arabia this week, where they are expected to sign a trilateral defense deal as regional violence flares.
    — Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Other ways to reduce flares in the summer include wearing lightweight, breathable fabrics to minimize friction and sweat accumulation on plaques, showering promptly after sweating, and applying emollients to maintain your skin barrier.
    — Teresa Maalouf, Verywell Health, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of flares
Noun
  • Noel Washington of Sherman Oaks Notre Dame showed flashes of brilliance as a sophomore.
    — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Now, the Dolphins need those flashes to become consistent production.
    — Tyler M. Carmona July 31, Miami Herald, 31 July 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 8 Aug. 2026.

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