FLARE-UPS Synonyms: 56 Similar and Opposite Words

flare-ups

noun

plural of flare-up

as in flurries

a sudden and usually temporary growth of activity took medication to prevent a flare-up of her asthma

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in explosions

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-ups There have been verbal flare-ups in previous meetings between Medvedev and Tsitsipas down the years, including in the Australian Open semifinals in 2022. — ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026 Flames could be seen coming from the third floor and through the roof, with flare-ups around a grill atop the roof. — Joe Brandt, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026 Over the decades, as Shakur’s stature grew and evolved, there were flare-ups of media interest and theories but no conclusions or arrests. — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026 The sun’s intense flare-ups had put the telescope on a downward spiral faster than engineers anticipated. — Marcia Dunn, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2026 The sun's intense flare-ups had put the telescope on a downward spiral faster than engineers anticipated. — Arkansas Online, 26 Sep. 2026 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 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 And the price of oil breached the $100 threshold, for the first time in months, as the new flare-ups stoked fresh concern for global energy markets. — Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 9 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for flare-ups

Noun

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
The flurries of pigment inside them were dispersed by bursts of air delivered through the base of the box.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of flurries

Noun

The explosions ruptured the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, which was Russia's main natural gas supply route to Germany until Moscow cut off supplies in August 2022.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 15 Oct. 2026
Russia’s ballistic missiles can reach Kyiv in just minutes, leaving little time to respond; in some recent attacks, air raid sirens sounded at the same time as the first explosions.

— Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of explosions

Noun

Large outbreaks force farms to cull their flocks to prevent the spread of the disease, diminishing the domestic supply of chickens and raising prices.

— Joe Hernandez, NPR, 20 Oct. 2026
There have been multiple measles outbreaks in the last two years, including one in West Texas that infected 762 people and killed two children.

— Ciara McCarthy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of outbreaks

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
As a result, military children and teenagers may experience social withdrawal, angry outbursts and mental health problems, including depression and anxiety.

— Nikki R Wooten, The Conversation, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of outbursts

Noun

But this research suggests that automation can happen in bursts, and those bursts tend to cluster around recessions.

— Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 20 Oct. 2026
On a night this cold, the bursts of flame were almost as welcome as the spectacle, providing a few seconds of actual warmth to fans on the field and in the lower bowl.

— Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of bursts

Noun

Xu Fu and Ma Junsheng also play surrogate dads to Seif, whose increasingly violent eruptions threaten to change the course of his life more than once.

— Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026
As of last month, 52 additional fountain eruptions had occurred, the most violent of which spewed lava over 400 meters into the air.

— John Timmer, ArsTechnica, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of eruptions

Noun

Two officers were seated inside a Dodge Charger patrol car when the Tesla, driven by a 22-year-old Sacramento man, passed through a pattern of flares and traffic cones and struck their vehicle, the CHP said.

— Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 14 Oct. 2026
L’Agence showed a wide sweep of jean fits from wide-leg and skinny flares to culottes.

— Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of flares

Noun

Fault currents, which can fry components and cause dangerous arc flashes, are one challenge, requiring new protection measures and solid-state circuit breakers.

— Alex Pasternack, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
The Panthers have shown flashes of their potential this season, but consistency on both sides of the ball will be critical to winning close games.

— Alejandro Hernandez, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of flashes

Browse Nearby Words

flare-up

flare-ups

flaring

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“Flare-ups.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flare-ups. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of flare-ups

noun

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