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

Relevance

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
  • Last month, Congo began vaccinating health and other front-line workers with the Ervebo vaccine that was effective in past Ebola outbreaks caused by a different, more common type called Zaire.
    — JEAN-YVES KAMALE, Arkansas Online, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Meanwhile, the region's healthcare system is already stretched thin, treating children with malnutrition and outbreaks of malaria or measles on a regular basis.
    — Durrie Bouscaren, NPR, 10 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
  • Potential hazards include volcanic bombs, heavy ashfall and lava flows if continuous eruptions resume.
    — Niniek Karmini, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • After the northern lights put on a dazzling show over North Dakota, Canada and Iceland earlier this week, the solar eruptions expected to stir up Wednesday night’s sky have been delayed or possibly missed Earth altogether.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of eruptions
Noun
  • The 2027 Honda Passport TrailSport is getting a slew of significant upgrades, including more ride height, more aggressive fender flares, and some cute amber running lights above the grille.
    — Andrew P. Collins, The Drive, 9 Sep. 2026
  • The place is normally crowded with people meeting for pre-match drinks and food while fan groups light flares and sing their songs.
    — Pol Ballús, New York Times, 9 Sep. 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
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Flare-ups.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flare-ups. Accessed 14 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of empirical

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
funny guinea pig in glasses reading a book
Challenging Words You Should Know Vol 2 Words to the wise
See All