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
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 Crews continue responding to new flare-ups across North Texas, and Turner said the region could remain active through the end of September and into early October. — Amelia Mugavero, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026 Oil prices have been on a rollercoaster this year, oscillating as traders react to flare-ups in fighting and monitor oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. — John Towfighi, CNN Money, 9 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
  • The widespread use of arrests, tear gas and riot-control weapons against teenagers is fueling defiance and angering some parents and teachers.
    — NICOLAS GARRIGA, Arkansas Online, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Lai and his Democratic Progressive Party champion Taiwan’s separate identity from China, a position that frequently angers Beijing, which views the island as Chinese territory.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of anger
Verb
  • Those remarks came as a new controversy erupted in Israel over the official record of Netanyahu's actions on the morning of the attack.
    — Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2026
  • In the Prime Video limited series, set 50 years after Blade Runner 2049, the simmering conflict between the artificial beings, known as Replicants, and humans has erupted into outright war, and humans lost.
    — Joshua Rivera, Vulture, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of erupt
Noun
  • The turns came in a flurry as each of Green, Levine, and Clarkson had two spots to fill, and Latifah had one to give.
    — Lars Brandle, Billboard, 7 Oct. 2026
  • This bold flurry is a stark contrast with Democratic leaders, who would like to start really shaping their agenda … after the midterm elections.
    — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of flurry
Noun
  • Hastert’s tenure was marked by a shift of power from committee chairmen to GOP leaders, fealty to the Bush administration and an explosion of congressional pet projects known as earmarks.
    — Michael Tarm, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026
  • The explosion caused an artificial radiation belt that destroyed several satellites and partially knocked out street lights and phone lines in Hawaii.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 5 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
  • The story effectively went viral, Churchill told me, and lock-picking competitions briefly exploded in popularity.
    — Shayla Love, New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Shares exploded higher by as much as 211% but retreated from those peaks and are starting to form an interesting baseline.
    — Jay Woods, CNBC, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of explode
Noun
  • Most importantly, there was a burst of chocolate flavor in every bite.
    — Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 9 Oct. 2026
  • But this record-setting FRB still significantly pushes back the baseline for when these bursts can occur in cosmic history.
    — Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of burst
Noun
  • One such outburst took place in 1933, when observers in Europe watched an astonishing 500 shooting stars streak across the sky each minute.
    — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Michael Douglas was subject to violent and angry outbursts as well.
    — Maddie Connors, Los Angeles Times, 5 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 13 Oct. 2026.

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