FLARE-UPS Synonyms: 56 Similar and Opposite Words

flare-ups

noun

plural of flare-up

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

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 People with digestive conditions that require a temporary low-fiber diet during flare-ups may also need to limit unhulled sesame seeds, since their fiber-rich outer hull can be difficult to tolerate. — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2026 Teams have been working to prevent flare-ups on the ground and with aerial operations, Nugraha said. — ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026 Both helped, but azithromycin was slightly better at preventing more flare-ups. — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 11 Aug. 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for flare-ups

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

Small explosions happen within the park every few years and generally present localized dangers.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 12 Aug. 2026
Earlier this summer in Germany, evacuations were ordered in record-breaking heat after a wildfire triggered explosions in a nature reserve strewn with leftover ordnance from World War II.

— John Vaillant, Time, 8 Aug. 2026

Definition of explosions

Noun

As a result, mumps vaccination rates are low, and Japan has large outbreaks every three to five years.

— Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
The vast majority of cases have been in people who were unvaccinated, and outbreaks have spread in communities with lower vaccination rates.

— Grace Manthey, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of outbreaks

Noun

The McKinney City Council voted late Wednesday night to approve a site plan for a new mosque after a marathon meeting marked by outbursts and hours of public comment.

— Trevor Sochocki, CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026
His wife, Liz (Evan Rachel Wood), is a sneak preview of Debbie’s future, self-medicating with drugs, alcohol, and wrathful outbursts.

— Judy Berman, Time, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of outbursts

Noun

Scientists are curious about the sun’s inner workings to better track massive bursts of energy called coronal mass ejections that can hurl toward Earth.

— Adithi Ramakrishnan, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026
The engines, adapted from those used in the company’s heavy machinery, mix pressurized hydrogen gas with air and ignite it to create bursts of power.

— ABC News, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of bursts

Noun

Consider the latest eruptions that happened within hours of each other a few days ago, when the league quickly rescinded a technical foul assessed to Clark that would have put her at the threshold for a suspension.

— Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026
Since Yellowstone’s last caldera-forming event, the region has experienced approximately 80 comparatively nonexplosive eruptions, most of which produced lava flows.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 12 Aug. 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

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flare-up

flare-ups

flaring

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

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Synonyms of flare-ups

noun

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