1
as in to anger
to become very angry
naturally I flared up when he insulted me
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Recent Examples of flare (up)
Chloe Laws, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Apr. 2026
The latest flare-up underscores a broader geopolitical clash about Iran, Gaza and regional influence, even as Washington attempts to maintain cooperation with both sides.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 14 Apr. 2026
There were no more real flare-ups — just Detroit (59-22) dominating the Hornets like a big brother dominating a little brother in a game of one-on-one.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 11 Apr. 2026
Scientists’ best solar models presently struggle to precisely predict flare-ups on our own, most familiar star.
—Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flare (up)
Noun
My stomach cramping and pain were too sharp to even walk, and the four-day trip was lost to a flare-up.
—Chloe Laws, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Apr. 2026
The latest flare-up underscores a broader geopolitical clash about Iran, Gaza and regional influence, even as Washington attempts to maintain cooperation with both sides.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 14 Apr. 2026
There were no more real flare-ups — just Detroit (59-22) dominating the Hornets like a big brother dominating a little brother in a game of one-on-one.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 11 Apr. 2026
Scientists’ best solar models presently struggle to precisely predict flare-ups on our own, most familiar star.
—Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flare (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flare (up)
Verb
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Starmer’s comments risk angering many within his party, who will take issue with his linking of antisemitism with pro-Palestinian activism.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
2 May 2026
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Those plans angered victims' families, and some prominent state officials called for regulators to deny or delay renewal of the camp's license, which had been under review by the Texas Department of State Health Services.—
Briauna Brown,
CBS News,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Those gathered at Inter&Co Stadium erupted into cheers.—
Camila Gomez,
The Orlando Sentinel,
1 May 2026
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Police were responding to a domestic dispute in Queens when an explosion suddenly erupted, sending officers flying.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
1 May 2026
Noun
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He should not be deluded by the Phillies’ quick flurry of wins after replacing Rob Thompson as manager with Don Mattingly.—
Bill Madden,
New York Daily News,
2 May 2026
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QuickTake The fire, one of the most destructive in California history, has also led to a flurry of lawsuits against the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Water, the biggest municipal utility in the US.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
Quick hits • Orlando Science Center hosts Mess Fest, which splatters knowledge and physics with paint, foam explosions and more.—
Dewayne Bevil,
The Orlando Sentinel,
1 May 2026
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Explosion of leftover bombs killed 14 in Iran An explosion of leftover bombs from strikes during the war against Iran killed 14 Revolutionary Guard members, IRNA and other Iranian media reported Friday.—
Toqa Ezzidin,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
Verb
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As of Sunday evening, traffic was snarled at Robertson Boulevard and Burton Way, which is on the border between Beverly Hills and the Los Angeles neighborhood of Beverly Grove.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
4 May 2026
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The musical — a rock-and-raunch, goth-and-gay parody of cheesy, mid-century horror/sci-fi flicks — was created by Richard O’Brien (book, music, lyrics and who performed as the snarling butler Riff Raff).—
Frank Rizzo,
Variety,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Walks have exploded under new ABS system With the introduction of challenges, MLB had to essentially redefine the strike zone to ensure that the tracking system would consistently and accurately measure what actually is a strike or ball.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
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Freedom from nonstop sound effects Some ballparks are worse than others, but the trend of teams that pump up the volume and inject sound effects between pitches, similar to an NBA game, is exploding.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
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An unexpected new burst of infamy arrived in 2011, when the motto appeared at SlutWalk NYC, a feminist protest, on a sign held by a protester—a white woman, as far as anyone could tell.—
Kelefa Sanneh,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
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Each new burst of observation, each refined model, peels back another layer, showing us just how dynamic and surprising the life of a star can be.—
Paul Sutter,
Space.com,
3 May 2026
Noun
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Flagg and Knueppel traded places as betting favorites during the season, but Flagg’s 96-point outburst over two games on the second-to-last weekend might have tipped the scales.—
Schuyler Dixon,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
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The Bears took control with a 5-0 outburst in the third quarter for a 12-7 advantage over the defending champions.—
Glae Thien,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flare (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flare%20%28up%29. Accessed 4 May. 2026.
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