FLARES Synonyms: 113 Similar and Opposite Words

flares 1 of 2

noun

plural of flare

as in bursts

a sudden and usually temporary growth of activity a flare in gift card sales around graduation time

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in explosions

a sudden intense expression of strong feeling ended the quarrel with a stunning flare of swearwords

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as in glows

the steady giving off of the form of radiation that makes vision possible in the darkness the flare of a single match might be seen by enemy troops

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

flares

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of flare

as in burns

to shine with a bright harsh light floodlights flaring into the forbidding empty spaces surrounding the prison

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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 flares

Noun

Violent stellar flares can produce bursts of high-energy radiation. — Alix Freckelton, Space.com, 11 Nov. 2026 These gowns were crafted of a liquid-like silk that caught the camera’s flash with dramatic flares that flattered the form. — Amina Ayoud, Footwear News, 7 Nov. 2026 Edison mentions an abusive boyfriend of Leonora’s, and there is one scene, set at a public park, where some of Arlo’s suppressed trauma flares violently into the open. — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 6 Nov. 2026 Prosecutors said Weisheit bound and gagged Caleb, then placed railroad flares in his clothing and near his body before setting fire to the home and fleeing out of state. — Abigail Brooks, NBC news, 4 Nov. 2026 Its onboard instruments could detect anything that changes quickly in the sky, including supernovae and X-ray flares from binary stars, which are two stars bound by gravity that tend to interact with each other. — Mary Ogborn, The Conversation, 4 Nov. 2026 Click To Flip Over Stress can trigger flares and make symptoms harder to manage. — Health Editorial Team, HEALTH, 3 Nov. 2026 As the chamber devolved into chaos, fellow opposition members surrounded Berisha, holding blue flares, the official color of their party, and displaying images of protesters injured by police rubber bullets. — Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 29 Oct. 2026 Investigators also found store security camera video that showed Hubbs buying roadside flares and kerosene two days before the house fire. — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 27 Oct. 2026

Verb

The look was elevated by Le Silla’s recognizable stiletto heel shape which flares ever so slightly. — Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 27 Sep. 2026 The front pleats add a flattering touch to the leg-elongating wide-leg style, which slightly flares from the knee to the ankle. — Melony Forcier, InStyle, 22 Aug. 2026 Why probiotics matters for sensitive and dry skin If your skin flares up easily, probiotics may help quiet the noise. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 11 Aug. 2026 The only 16mm shot of the film is of Billy (Anderson) looking directly at the camera before the film flares out and switches to the Little Death oner. — Matt Minton, Variety, 9 Aug. 2026 As back-to-school season arrives, Molly O’Shea, a pediatrician and spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics, told KOAT7 that keeping teens in school matters even when anxiety flares. — Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 7 Aug. 2026 City officials and public safety leaders say residents cannot legally reserve a public street space with furniture, cones or homemade markers, even as the tradition flares up again around big events like Picklesburgh. — Gabby Sartori, USA Today, 15 July 2026 The other eight out of nine Israeli workers make their living in shops, farms, and one-person businesses that depend on local customers, the ones who stay home and lose a day's income every time the fighting flares up. — Frayda Leibtag, Time, 13 July 2026 Separately, Ford is also recalling 36,046 Bronco vehicles with model years 2022 to 2026 because the fender flares may be improperly secured and can fall off, creating a hazard for drivers, the NHTSA said. — Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 30 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for flares

Noun

Powerful storms, intense winds, Arctic air, and even bursts of warmth all play a role in creating the complex weather pattern the region experiences.

— Ahmad Bajjey, CBS News, 10 Nov. 2026
Like most things in life, the key to being a better reader is likely small, regular doses, rather than sudden intense bursts pegged to major news events.

— Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of bursts

Noun

Periods of paralyzing coldness are punctured by moments of passionate intensity; abject declarations of love and remorse follow savage explosions; then come the coercion, denials, gaslighting, and escalations.

— Jamie Hood, New Yorker, 11 Nov. 2026
This is a process that scientists are keen to understand, as these explosions fling the heavy elements forged during the stars' lifetimes into surrounding galaxies.

— Robert Lea, Space.com, 11 Nov. 2026

Definition of explosions

Noun

Two small slots on each of those sides are there to hold available tritium vials so that the Apex V2 glows, making it (and the release buttons) easier to find in the dark.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 22 Oct. 2026
Every nightfall is different — different seasonal colors, angels, weather, celestial glows, grasses and shadows.

— Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of glows

Verb

At the center of this struggle for power and survival burns Chandra, a volatile pyromancer hunted for her gifts, and haunted by her past.

— Denise Petski, Deadline, 13 Nov. 2026
Pattern detection is also cheap, and a brain that burns about a fifth of the body’s energy can’t treat every moment as brand new.

— Josh Brown,Sean Russo, CNBC, 12 Nov. 2026

Definition of burns

Noun

Similarly, flurries and snow showers are expected in the Upper Midwest, along with chillier-than-normal temperatures.

— Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 21 Oct. 2026
And a colleague spotted on a webcam video what appeared to be flurries at Beech Mountain Saturday morning.

— Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of flurries

Noun

This sets in motion a chain of events that results in the brilliant outbursts.

— Keith Cooper, Space.com, 12 Nov. 2026
In addition to the shocking run of results, which leaves the Red Devils in 18th place, the season has been punctuated by several flashpoints – including public outbursts from club captain Bruno Fernandes and fans turning on many of the players.

— Ben Church, CNN Money, 12 Nov. 2026

Definition of outbursts

Noun

As Nazareth’s pep band rang in the victory, parents offered the Celtics words of comfort, pausing only to cast glares in the direction of administrators.

— Lila Hempel-Edgers, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2026
Astronomers have spotted four dead star white dwarf stars playing a game of cosmic hide-and-seek, all four of which were hiding in the glares of red dwarf companion stars.

— Robert Lea, Space.com, 14 July 2026

Definition of glares

Verb

Creative endeavor, in the space of a few hours, flashes its many faces, arduous and sexy, fleeting and fun.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026
This option from Vantamo flashes a bright light and emits a 130-decibel sound from dual speakers whenever the top pin is pulled, alerting passersby of the emergency and scaring off potential assailants.

— Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 20 Sep. 2026