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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

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 The 4×4 has also been equipped with a bold body kit that includes a more aggressive front fascia, hood scoop, and even larger fender flares. — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 25 Sep. 2026 These flares are more extreme when the neutron star is closest to its stellar donor and thus passing through a denser stream of plasma. — Robert Lea, Space.com, 24 Sep. 2026 The cause usually isn’t known, but many everyday things can lead to flares, like exposure to heat and cold, physical activity, and even pressure on your skin from tight clothes. — Victoria Ekwenuke, Glamour, 23 Sep. 2026 Earlier this week, Denmark accused a Russian warship of firing two emergency flares at a Danish military helicopter over the Baltic Sea. — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 19 Sep. 2026 Keeping eczema flares at bay The first step in your journey to clearing up your skin should be to get your eczema under control. — Ayana Byrd, Allure, 17 Sep. 2026 Also on Tuesday, the Danish Armed Forces said a Danish military helicopter was targeted by a Russian warship, which fired two emergency flares while the helicopter was taking routine photographs of the vessel in international waters on Monday. — Arina Porkhovnik, CNN Money, 15 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

But more appealing to me were the smaller bursts of creativity.

— Tony Perrottet, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Nobody is more confident working with the Kings than Colter, whose swagger and comfort with bursts of goofiness are well-deployed, albeit with less emotional range in the early-going.

— Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of bursts

Noun

The shoot involved firing blanks and igniting explosions, theatrics that shocked the film’s residential neighbors and spurred concerns over public safety.

— ABC News, ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026
As the car drives on while dodging a series of explosions, a seemingly endless number of terrorists armed with automatic weapons shoot at it to no avail.

— Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 7 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

Verb

California no longer burns or buys electricity generated by coal.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
From there, Watkins takes Stacey into stranger territory, turning her personal crisis into a commentary on climate change and how people continue to carry on as the world burns.

— Michelle F. Solomon, Miami Herald, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of burns

Noun

Michael Douglas was subject to violent and angry outbursts as well.

— Maddie Connors, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026
There was no notice to staff that swings in blood sugar levels can cause the kind of emotional distress and behavioral outbursts that got Christian in trouble.

— Joseph Shapiro, NPR, 30 Sep. 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