1
as in bursts
a sudden and usually temporary growth of activity
a flare in gift card sales around graduation time
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in explosions
a sudden intense expression of strong feeling
ended the quarrel with a stunning flare of swearwords
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in burns
to shine with a bright harsh light
floodlights flaring into the forbidding empty spaces surrounding the prison
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of flares
ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026
Solar flares produced by the sun can cause radio blackouts and geomagnetic storms on Earth, which interfere with radio communications and affect satellites in orbit.
—Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 3 Mar. 2026
But in my opinion they should be viewed as warning flares.
—Peter Su, Rolling Stone, 2 Mar. 2026
Load your car with winter travel gear, including tire chains, ice scraper/snowbrush, jumper cables, and road flares.
—Katie Wiseman, IndyStar, 2 Mar. 2026
The midi skirt has a pencil-like shape that contours the body and flares subtly at the hem.
—Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 28 Feb. 2026
Kick flares work well here, but flowy, straight-leg pants feel a little more appropriate for our current moment.
—Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 27 Feb. 2026
And, all the while, the bigger one kept edging in a few feet at a time, cautious, but not afraid, retreating when the men rushed him with their flares, but always circling back toward the tent.
—Doris Decleene, Outdoor Life, 25 Feb. 2026
Violence flares in two ways following such high-profile captures and killings of cartel leaders.
—Angélica Durán-Martínez, The Conversation, 24 Feb. 2026
Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026
The swishy Zesica Sleeveless Maxi Dress checks all my boxes, as the asymmetrical top is designed to sit lower on one side, and slightly flares out into a flowy pleated skirt that twirls nicely and allows for a full range of movement.
—Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 15 Feb. 2026
The dress also appeared to have a wider skirt that flares out at the hem, which had a scalloped trim.
—Tara Larson, Footwear News, 27 Dec. 2025
Incredibly, the mounds, which are also known as gas hydrate cold seeps, release methane gas flares some 3,300 meters up into the water—the tallest such flares ever recorded.
—Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 25 Dec. 2025
Unlike typical wide-leg jeans, this style flares out at the knee and subtly cinches back toward the ankle.
—Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 4 Dec. 2025
The fender flares, big tire footprint, and rugged stance harken back to the 4Runner’s heritage, but with a sharper modern edge from Toyota’s Calty design studio in California.
—New Atlas, 22 Nov. 2025
One officer reaches into the car to open the driver's door and pull him out, but a ball of flames quickly flares up as smoke billows from the car.
—Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 17 Nov. 2025
If your skin flares at even the slightest touch, Avène’s intensive serum could be your new holy grail.
—Lucy Partington, Glamour, 17 Nov. 2025
Noun
Some fans threw flares onto the field at the final whistle as Marseille's players went off to a chorus of boos.
—ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026
Solar flares produced by the sun can cause radio blackouts and geomagnetic storms on Earth, which interfere with radio communications and affect satellites in orbit.
—Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 3 Mar. 2026
But in my opinion they should be viewed as warning flares.
—Peter Su, Rolling Stone, 2 Mar. 2026
Load your car with winter travel gear, including tire chains, ice scraper/snowbrush, jumper cables, and road flares.
—Katie Wiseman, IndyStar, 2 Mar. 2026
The midi skirt has a pencil-like shape that contours the body and flares subtly at the hem.
—Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 28 Feb. 2026
Kick flares work well here, but flowy, straight-leg pants feel a little more appropriate for our current moment.
—Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 27 Feb. 2026
And, all the while, the bigger one kept edging in a few feet at a time, cautious, but not afraid, retreating when the men rushed him with their flares, but always circling back toward the tent.
—Doris Decleene, Outdoor Life, 25 Feb. 2026
Violence flares in two ways following such high-profile captures and killings of cartel leaders.
—Angélica Durán-Martínez, The Conversation, 24 Feb. 2026
Verb
With less than seven weeks left in the regular season, runways can shorten quickly if an injury flares up again.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026
The swishy Zesica Sleeveless Maxi Dress checks all my boxes, as the asymmetrical top is designed to sit lower on one side, and slightly flares out into a flowy pleated skirt that twirls nicely and allows for a full range of movement.
—Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 15 Feb. 2026
The dress also appeared to have a wider skirt that flares out at the hem, which had a scalloped trim.
—Tara Larson, Footwear News, 27 Dec. 2025
Incredibly, the mounds, which are also known as gas hydrate cold seeps, release methane gas flares some 3,300 meters up into the water—the tallest such flares ever recorded.
—Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 25 Dec. 2025
Unlike typical wide-leg jeans, this style flares out at the knee and subtly cinches back toward the ankle.
—Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 4 Dec. 2025
The fender flares, big tire footprint, and rugged stance harken back to the 4Runner’s heritage, but with a sharper modern edge from Toyota’s Calty design studio in California.
—New Atlas, 22 Nov. 2025
One officer reaches into the car to open the driver's door and pull him out, but a ball of flames quickly flares up as smoke billows from the car.
—Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 17 Nov. 2025
If your skin flares at even the slightest touch, Avène’s intensive serum could be your new holy grail.
—Lucy Partington, Glamour, 17 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flares
Noun
-
This chain reaction — a photoelectric feedback loop — produces intense radiation bursts of X-rays and gamma rays that can reach deep space.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Try setting a timer for yourself and seeing how much you can get done in quick bursts (with breaks in between, of course).—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Multiple explosions were heard in Tehran, with blasts lighting up the sky and turning it orange, according to reports from the Iranian capital.—
Mirna Alsharif,
NBC news,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Grainy black-and-white videos show explosions destroying Iran’s ships, missiles and missile launchers.—
Susan Shelley,
Oc Register,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
These glows lasted up to three seconds, often moving from leaf to leaf.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Inside, a long mahogany counter glows beneath warm gold walls, where bartenders move with precision through a selection of classics and inventive cocktails built on bold spirits and house infusions.—
Melinda Sheckells,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
If Sunday was any indication, the love affair between Avs fans and Kadri burns as hot as ever.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
9 Mar. 2026
-
The white phosphorus then ignites and burns intensely, destroying the agents by incinerating them – a method meant to reduce the risk of spreading the materials and to limit potential harm to civilians and the surrounding environment.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
And flurries have been spotted as far south as as Cape Coral, Florida, south of Tampa.—
Naema Ahmed,
Washington Post,
27 Feb. 2026
-
There’s a better chance of snow flurries in Homestead than the Heat intentionally losing games to improve their draft position.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
But recent outbursts of dissent in some regions including Tibet and Xinjiang prompted Beijing to crack down.—
Jeronimo Gonzalez,
semafor.com,
12 Mar. 2026
-
And a big departure from 2025 when the Rangers managed eight first-inning outbursts of at least three runs on the way to ranking 22nd in runs for the season and 26th in OPS.—
Evan Grant,
Dallas Morning News,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Since it was released at the end of 2023, the hulking, angular vehicle has been subject to jokes about its appearance and glares from people who disagree with CEO Elon Musk’s politics.—
Andrea Guzmán,
Austin American Statesman,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Saab recommends combining overhead lighting with wall sconces and table lamps to lend more flexibility while also avoiding harsh glares.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
31 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Early humans lived in environments with little sanitation and strong social contact – perfect conditions for outbreaks of pathogens that cause diarrhea.—
Lilia Goncharova,
The Conversation,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Identifying and treating latent TB has been lauded as a key strategy to prevent outbreaks among migrant communities and the native public for more than a generation by public health experts, according to a 2002 Cornell University study.—
Chase Hunter,
Mercury News,
9 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flares.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flares. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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