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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of flares
Mark Marino, PEOPLE, 14 Apr. 2026
That came despite flares and emergency lights being activated.
—David Clarey, jsonline.com, 14 Apr. 2026
Solar flares themselves produce radio waves, which can 'drown out' radio signals used on the ground.
—Ryan French, Space.com, 13 Apr. 2026
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
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
These flares, in particular, are my favorite from the line.
—Iman Balagam, InStyle, 7 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
Mark Marino, PEOPLE, 14 Apr. 2026
Within any chimp group, violence flares occasionally — but it is usually dampened by long friendships.
—Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Apr. 2026
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
Noun
Because ulcerative colitis is a relapsing–remitting disease, many people go through quiet periods and then experience flares when inflammation ramps up again.
—Mark Marino, PEOPLE, 14 Apr. 2026
That came despite flares and emergency lights being activated.
—David Clarey, jsonline.com, 14 Apr. 2026
Solar flares themselves produce radio waves, which can 'drown out' radio signals used on the ground.
—Ryan French, Space.com, 13 Apr. 2026
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
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
These flares, in particular, are my favorite from the line.
—Iman Balagam, InStyle, 7 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
Verb
At the same time, flares themselves are stressful, creating a vicious cycle in which symptoms and emotional distress feed into each other.
—Mark Marino, PEOPLE, 14 Apr. 2026
Within any chimp group, violence flares occasionally — but it is usually dampened by long friendships.
—Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Apr. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flares
Noun
-
Upon first spritz, the perfume bursts with caramel, coconut, and vanilla, balanced by fresh citrus to prevent it from becoming saccharine sweet.—
Kiana Murden,
Vogue,
16 Apr. 2026
-
However, during stronger bursts, the aurora could dip farther south, giving states like Oregon, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, New York, Vermont and New Hampshire a chance to catch a glow low on the northern horizon, per NOAA forecasts.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
16 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
-
The blue-white light of the star Spica will be visible twinkling to the upper right of the lunar disk in the constellation Virgo, while the red supergiant Arcturus glows to its upper left in Bootes.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
9 Apr. 2026
-
These glows lasted up to three seconds, often moving from leaf to leaf.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Fire burns at the site of recycling materials following a Russian strike in Kyiv on Thursday.—
Yuliya Talmazan,
NBC news,
16 Apr. 2026
-
This indicates a hard-kill approach that burns and destroys components instead of relying on electronic disruption.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
As the rain and snow fall, flurries can melt, mix together and refreeze just before hitting the ground, according to Jackson Macfarlane, a meteorologist with the weather service’s Boise office.—
Hali Smith
April 14,
Idaho Statesman,
14 Apr. 2026
-
From one end skates Wisconsin, racking up upsets and scoring in flurries.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The rapper, who now goes by Ye, faces a potential ban in the country amid ongoing backlash over his past antisemitic outbursts.—
Charisma Madarang,
Rolling Stone,
15 Apr. 2026
-
The new secretary takes up his post at a time when traditional diplomacy often takes a back seat to Trump’s off-the cuff comments and social media outbursts.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 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
-
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has repeatedly said that Mexico has a security plan in place for the soccer matches, despite continued outbreaks of violence in the country.—
Foreign Correspondent,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois have been hit the hardest by multiple outbreaks of severe weather over the week.—
Kyle Reiman,
ABC News,
18 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flares.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flares. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
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