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
Kilauea is among the world’s most active volcanoes, with sporadic flare-ups since December 2024.
—
Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026
Since stress can trigger acne flare-ups and hair shedding, supporting the body’s stress balance may help minimize these effects.
—Amanda Le, InStyle, 7 Mar. 2026
Previous flare-ups have calmed after days of fighting, and mediation by foreign governments including Saudi Arabia and Turkey.
—Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 27 Feb. 2026
The rapid and often unpredictable cadence of geopolitical flare-ups means that even the strongest friendshoring partnerships will inevitably be tested.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 25 Feb. 2026
Fragrance-free and hypoallergenic mineral sunscreens are generally better to prevent flare-ups.
—ABC News, 24 Feb. 2026
The new flare-ups, which began Saturday, openly challenge the government to suppress dissent once again — even as the final death toll from the earlier wave of violence has yet to be made official, with tens of thousands feared dead.
—Ramy Inocencio, CBS News, 23 Feb. 2026
Amid the country’s political divisions, there have been flare-ups over who is memorialized at the Capitol with a service to lie in state, or honor, in the Rotunda.
—Lisa Mascaro, Chicago Tribune, 20 Feb. 2026
Analysts attributed part of the support to surging nationalism and Anutin's tough stance against Cambodia during recent border flare-ups.
—Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 9 Feb. 2026
Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026
Since stress can trigger acne flare-ups and hair shedding, supporting the body’s stress balance may help minimize these effects.
—Amanda Le, InStyle, 7 Mar. 2026
Previous flare-ups have calmed after days of fighting, and mediation by foreign governments including Saudi Arabia and Turkey.
—Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 27 Feb. 2026
The rapid and often unpredictable cadence of geopolitical flare-ups means that even the strongest friendshoring partnerships will inevitably be tested.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 25 Feb. 2026
Fragrance-free and hypoallergenic mineral sunscreens are generally better to prevent flare-ups.
—ABC News, 24 Feb. 2026
The new flare-ups, which began Saturday, openly challenge the government to suppress dissent once again — even as the final death toll from the earlier wave of violence has yet to be made official, with tens of thousands feared dead.
—Ramy Inocencio, CBS News, 23 Feb. 2026
Amid the country’s political divisions, there have been flare-ups over who is memorialized at the Capitol with a service to lie in state, or honor, in the Rotunda.
—Lisa Mascaro, Chicago Tribune, 20 Feb. 2026
Analysts attributed part of the support to surging nationalism and Anutin's tough stance against Cambodia during recent border flare-ups.
—Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 9 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flare-ups
Noun
-
Light snow flurries were falling.—
Jack Perry,
The Providence Journal,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Neither that, nor Monday’s snow flurries, stopped Jennifer Hall and her family from making their own Magic City hoodies and proudly wearing them to the game at State Farm Arena.—
DeAsia Paige,
AJC.com,
17 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In Israel, loud explosions filled the air in Tel Aviv and emergency crews responded to nearly a dozen impact sites.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
-
According to the Iranian media, one witness reported hearing multiple explosions near Mashhad Airport shortly after 7 pm, local time.—
Moriah Thomas,
CNN Money,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Knowing where to look As measles cases grow nationwide, other states with outbreaks have sent out timely status updates and regularly made leaders available for questions.—
Deidre McPhillips,
CNN Money,
23 Mar. 2026
-
Treating exposed people with antibiotics before symptoms show up can help quickly squash bacterial meningitis outbreaks.—
Lauren J. Young,
Scientific American,
21 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Cronin has received his share – more than his share, actually – of negative fan reaction for his frequent outbursts at players.—
Jim Alexander,
Oc Register,
22 Mar. 2026
-
Still, wanting to be a team player, Anthony is warm, friendly, and offers an encouraging word to the future CEO — despite Dougie’s obvious nerves and his random outbursts in Jamaican Patois.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Sperm whales communicate via bursts of clicks, called codas, and the researchers—part of a project called the Cetacean Translation Initiative, or CETI—are hoping one day to decipher what the codas mean.—
Elizabeth Kolbert,
New Yorker,
26 Mar. 2026
-
And Falkous, for all that his bursts of mad atonality hit the ear first, knows precisely where to hammer in every syllable for the maximum impact.—
Alex Robert Ross,
Pitchfork,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Other prominent arsenic peaks, alongside major sulfate peaks, likely indicate major volcanic events that align with records of 13th century eruptions recorded in Greenland and Antarctic ice cores.—
Nidhi Sharma,
Popular Science,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Article continues below Previous eruptions have caused massive damage and fatalities.—
Brett Tingley,
Space.com,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Jeep also reshaped the wheel arches for better clearance—a nice touch—with carbon flares.—
Caleb Jacobs,
The Drive,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Forty years on, these flares are still roaring, especially in Delta State.—
Noo Saro-Wiwa,
The Dial,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
There are enough flashes of potential to suggest it didn’t have to be this way.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Mar. 2026
-
The device detects quick flashes in the atmosphere and is usually used to continuously map lightning strikes, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.—
Kerry Breen,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flare-ups.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flare-ups. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
