FLARES Synonyms: 113 Similar and Opposite Words

flares 1 of 2

noun

plural of flare

as in bursts

a sudden and usually temporary growth of activity a flare in gift card sales around graduation time

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in explosions

a sudden intense expression of strong feeling ended the quarrel with a stunning flare of swearwords

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

flares

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of flare

as in burns

to shine with a bright harsh light floodlights flaring into the forbidding empty spaces surrounding the prison

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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 flares

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 In September, a Russian frigate off the coast of Denmark fired two flares at a Danish military helicopter, one of which came dangerously close to hitting the aircraft. — Julianne Smith, Foreign Affairs, 7 Oct. 2026 Nearly 30% of patients developed acne or experienced acne exacerbations, while 12% had rosacea flares or rosacea-like dermatitis. — Korin Miller, Allure, 7 Oct. 2026 Dialects are as thick as old paint; symbols go up like flares. — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026 There’s one shot that puts you directly under Winter in medias yowl, as light flares stream from the ceiling and across his face, that will take your breath away. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 2 Oct. 2026 In two instances, the jets fired flares to get the pilots' attention and forced them to change course. — Lauren Victory, CBS News, 28 Sep. 2026 While officers were investigating that crash, the Tesla Model 3 drove through the road flares and hit a firefighter who was assisting at the scene, the CHP said. — Bay Area News Group, Mercury News, 28 Sep. 2026

Verb

The look was elevated by Le Silla’s recognizable stiletto heel shape which flares ever so slightly. — Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 27 Sep. 2026 The front pleats add a flattering touch to the leg-elongating wide-leg style, which slightly flares from the knee to the ankle. — Melony Forcier, InStyle, 22 Aug. 2026 Why probiotics matters for sensitive and dry skin If your skin flares up easily, probiotics may help quiet the noise. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 11 Aug. 2026 The only 16mm shot of the film is of Billy (Anderson) looking directly at the camera before the film flares out and switches to the Little Death oner. — Matt Minton, Variety, 9 Aug. 2026 As back-to-school season arrives, Molly O’Shea, a pediatrician and spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics, told KOAT7 that keeping teens in school matters even when anxiety flares. — Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 7 Aug. 2026 City officials and public safety leaders say residents cannot legally reserve a public street space with furniture, cones or homemade markers, even as the tradition flares up again around big events like Picklesburgh. — Gabby Sartori, USA Today, 15 July 2026 The other eight out of nine Israeli workers make their living in shops, farms, and one-person businesses that depend on local customers, the ones who stay home and lose a day's income every time the fighting flares up. — Frayda Leibtag, Time, 13 July 2026 Separately, Ford is also recalling 36,046 Bronco vehicles with model years 2022 to 2026 because the fender flares may be improperly secured and can fall off, creating a hazard for drivers, the NHTSA said. — Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 30 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for flares

Noun

Cue the lovelorn weeping in the rain set to composer Roger Goula’s supple string score, and before us, a sweeping love epic bursts alive with real pain.

— Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 13 Oct. 2026
The machine generated about a dozen or so graphs, marked by human figures and bursts of colors that denoted energy fields, broken down by organ—and even tooth.

— Jessica Sulima, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of bursts

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

Every nightfall is different — different seasonal colors, angels, weather, celestial glows, grasses and shadows.

— Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 1 Oct. 2026
The coating glows when exposed to light, with the intensity changing according to the pressure around it.

— Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of glows

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

As Nazareth’s pep band rang in the victory, parents offered the Celtics words of comfort, pausing only to cast glares in the direction of administrators.

— Lila Hempel-Edgers, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2026
Astronomers have spotted four dead star white dwarf stars playing a game of cosmic hide-and-seek, all four of which were hiding in the glares of red dwarf companion stars.

— Robert Lea, Space.com, 14 July 2026

Definition of glares

Verb

This option from Vantamo flashes a bright light and emits a 130-decibel sound from dual speakers whenever the top pin is pulled, alerting passersby of the emergency and scaring off potential assailants.

— Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 20 Sep. 2026
The show then flashes forward to the other women emotionally processing the news of his overdose and coming together at Angie’s to console one another and share memories of Robert.

— Tom Smyth, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2026