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
Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 9 Apr. 2026
The heightened conditions follow moderate solar activity that included several flares from active sunspot regions now roating across the sun’s surface.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 9 Apr. 2026
China fired warning flares at Philippine coast guard aircraft Thursday, the latest confrontation as Beijing militarizes artificial islands to expand its control over the contested waterway.
—Jim Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
The clip captures a solid day of shenanigans, which include dirt-biking, graffitiing, flying a kite, brandishing various plushies and smoke flares, and befriending a herd of sheep.
—Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 7 Apr. 2026
None of the heat anomalies, however, were indicative of damage – FIRMS also detects natural gas flares from the island’s oil facilities.
—Michael Rios, CNN Money, 7 Apr. 2026
What started with firecrackers and signal flares became an explosive force that played a significant role in shaping world politics and history.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
An affordable version of Bocca Italian in South Main serves Roman style pizzas and tasty appetizers with Latin and Mediterranean flares.
—Ella Gonzales
april 1, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Apr. 2026
The flares were used to draw attention from or communicate with the pilot.
—Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
Courtney Crowder, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026
There’s a funny reason why the pain flares in your upper face and forehead, a bit of a distance from the area responsible for the cold.
—Julia Daye, Popular Science, 2 Apr. 2026
The rear light flares bright when braking to add visibility for trailing riders and drivers.
—Erica Zazo, Outside, 27 Mar. 2026
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
Noun
If stress flares, breathe deep and set a boundary around your availability, then return to the next action on your schedule.
—Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 9 Apr. 2026
The heightened conditions follow moderate solar activity that included several flares from active sunspot regions now roating across the sun’s surface.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 9 Apr. 2026
China fired warning flares at Philippine coast guard aircraft Thursday, the latest confrontation as Beijing militarizes artificial islands to expand its control over the contested waterway.
—Jim Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
The clip captures a solid day of shenanigans, which include dirt-biking, graffitiing, flying a kite, brandishing various plushies and smoke flares, and befriending a herd of sheep.
—Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 7 Apr. 2026
None of the heat anomalies, however, were indicative of damage – FIRMS also detects natural gas flares from the island’s oil facilities.
—Michael Rios, CNN Money, 7 Apr. 2026
What started with firecrackers and signal flares became an explosive force that played a significant role in shaping world politics and history.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
An affordable version of Bocca Italian in South Main serves Roman style pizzas and tasty appetizers with Latin and Mediterranean flares.
—Ella Gonzales
april 1, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Apr. 2026
The flares were used to draw attention from or communicate with the pilot.
—Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
Verb
But then, in April 2019, his illness flares.
—Courtney Crowder, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026
There’s a funny reason why the pain flares in your upper face and forehead, a bit of a distance from the area responsible for the cold.
—Julia Daye, Popular Science, 2 Apr. 2026
The rear light flares bright when braking to add visibility for trailing riders and drivers.
—Erica Zazo, Outside, 27 Mar. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flares
Noun
-
The American Beauty rose is a climbing rose that adds bursts of color to your fence.—
Claudia Guthrie,
The Spruce,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The first of these—a cult favorite among writers, particularly youngish women writers—put Lemann on the map as a singular stylist, capable of crystalline insights into the miscreants and oddballs of the American South and great bursts of unrestrained sentiment.—
Brandy Jensen,
New Yorker,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In California, with its history of wildfires often caused by arson or negligence, prosecutors have not shied away from filing criminal charges, including murder, against people suspected of starting blazes or explosions, Taylor said.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
11 Apr. 2026
-
If such rockets could be launched at sea, then explosions would be less of an issue for neighbouring population centers.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Once you're set up, use your phone to scan the skies for faint hazy glows.—
Daisy Dobrijevic,
Space.com,
31 Mar. 2026
-
These glows lasted up to three seconds, often moving from leaf to leaf.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Although other correction burns like that had been planned for other days, Henfling said this was the first time one was actually necessary since the astronauts left Earth's orbit.—
Denise Chow,
NBC news,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Once all teams give the go-ahead, Integrity will continue along its route, with the help of a few trajectory correction burns along the way to keep the spacecraft precisely on course for splashdown.—
Briana Alvarado,
ABC News,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Curry magic, Curry flurries, Curry bringing an arena to its feet.—
Sports Columnist,
San Francisco Chronicle,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The light snow flurries in the Tahoe area this week after a spell of record-setting March heatwaves across California were not enough to reverse the damage.—
Chaewon Chung,
Sacbee.com,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Trump’s outbursts bespoke the frustration of a thoroughly incompetent ruler who began a war with no plan for how to conduct or conclude it and was unprepared for Iran’s resistance.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
8 Apr. 2026
-
It’s been nearly two months since the BAFTA Film Awards were upended by a series of profoundly upsetting outbursts during the February ceremony.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
8 Apr. 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
-
The country has a chronic malnutrition problem and ongoing outbreaks of cholera, measles and polio, says Marc Schakal, the program manager for Doctors without Borders.—
Fatma Tanis,
NPR,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Drops in vaccinations have already contributed to the rapid resurgence of measles outbreaks across the country.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flares.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flares. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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