flare (up) 1 of 2

verb

Definition of flare (up)next
1
as in to anger
to become very angry naturally I flared up when he insulted me

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to erupt
to develop suddenly and violently my allergies always flare up in the spring

Synonyms & Similar Words

flare-up

2 of 2

noun

ˈfler-ˌəp How to pronounce flare-up (audio)
1
as in flurry
a sudden and usually temporary growth of activity took medication to prevent a flare-up of her asthma

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in explosion
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 (up)
Noun
Since the staging area for firefighters, utility workers, national guard, and police was next to our house, for the next few days firefighters were able to put out flare-ups in and around our backyard. — The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 25 Sep. 2026 The four officials spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to talk to the media about the latest flare-up. — ABC News, 23 Sep. 2026 The flare-up in the tensions between the former bandmates comes as Hagar is about to resume his Best of All Words residency at the Park MGM in Las Vegas. — Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 18 Sep. 2026 Air fresheners, perfumes, cleaning supplies and paint spark allergy flare-ups that can last for 10 days. — Maven Navarro, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for flare (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flare (up)
  1. anger
  2. erupt
  3. flurry
  4. explosion
  5. snarl
  6. explode
  7. burst
  8. outburst
Verb
  • No commercial goods have entered the Gaza Strip for two days, Israeli authorities said Thursday, blaming the suspension on merchants angered by taxes imposed by the militant group Hamas — a claim that Palestinian importers deny.
    — Sam Metz, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The dispute over the report, which tackled an issue close to Weiss, forced CBS News to delay promotion of the episode and angered Stahl, who felt compelled to defend her reporting at a late stage of production.
    — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of anger
Verb
  • Still, when the measles outbreak erupted, Bangladesh responded swiftly and initially seemed to be winning the battle.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Multiple people were killed and dozens more were injured when an explosion erupted at a Canadian military base, according to authorities.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of erupt
Noun
  • Florida has accelerated its pace of executions amid a flurry of death warrants signed by DeSantis since 2025.
    — Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Facing a flurry of negative reactions, the AI content was taken down within three hours.
    — Daniel Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of flurry
Noun
  • More recently, the Kremlin has expressed hope that those who orchestrated the explosions will be held accountable.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The trailer also featured glimpses of steamy makeouts, ATV chases down the beach, fiery explosions, and good ol’ bar fights.
    — Isabella Albaig, Vulture, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of explosion
Verb
  • Kerry McCoy’s guitar juices up a mid-song gallop by abruptly pivoting from big and noisy to compressed and snarling; at the climax, everything cuts out for a second to spotlight a Daniel Tracy drum fill.
    — Patrick Lyons, Pitchfork, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Stepping into the band’s lead guitarist role was Nick Johnston, a forceful presence delivering crisp musical phrases that could be fittingly elegant or snarling.
    — Steve Appleford, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of snarl
Verb
  • Nearly 2,400 people were arrested in France on Saturday after long-simmering protests exploded into some of the country’s most disruptive unrest in years.
    — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 18 Oct. 2026
  • When Louise would remember the show decades later, the audience was always so electric that the room exploded into stamping feet and pounding fists.
    — Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of explode
Noun
  • Shuting Qiu’s lineup of vivid patterns and billowing silhouettes offered a burst of color and optimism to the city.
    — Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Even during historically warm winters, intense cold snaps, lake-effect bursts, and major individual snowstorms remain entirely possible.
    — Ahmad Bajjey, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of burst
Noun
  • The cause of their displeasure has to do with scenes woven throughout that illustrate how Baldwin got his reputation for angry outbursts – confrontations with paparazzi through the years, for instance.
    — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 12 Oct. 2026
  • This is not the first time Blair has experienced an outburst on a plane.
    — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of outburst

Browse Nearby Words

flares (up)
flare (up)
flare-up
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Cite this Entry

“Flare (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flare%20%28up%29. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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