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
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)
Victoria Craw,
Washington Post,
27 June 2026
The flare-up quickly transformed Lebanon from a peripheral concern into a central question hanging over the Iran war and the nascent peace talks.
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Vivian Salama,
The Atlantic,
27 June 2026
Firefighters have declared the blaze knocked down but will stay on scene for flare-ups as demolition begins, while officials promise a health-conscious cleanup that minimizes impacts on surrounding residents.
—
Jazmin Alvarado,
Los Angeles Times,
26 June 2026
However, as reports of Iranian retaliation and the latest fracturing of the fragile and decried peace deal resulted, Vance also became the voice of the administration on the flare-up Friday.
—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
26 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for flare (up)
Noun
Washington and Tehran differ over whether Iran has a say in which vessels can cross the crucial waterway and when, leading to flare-ups.
—
Victoria Craw,
Washington Post,
27 June 2026
The flare-up quickly transformed Lebanon from a peripheral concern into a central question hanging over the Iran war and the nascent peace talks.
—
Vivian Salama,
The Atlantic,
27 June 2026
Firefighters have declared the blaze knocked down but will stay on scene for flare-ups as demolition begins, while officials promise a health-conscious cleanup that minimizes impacts on surrounding residents.
—
Jazmin Alvarado,
Los Angeles Times,
26 June 2026
However, as reports of Iranian retaliation and the latest fracturing of the fragile and decried peace deal resulted, Vance also became the voice of the administration on the flare-up Friday.
—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
26 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for flare (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flare (up)
Verb
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The mayor floated the idea to place Williams on probation for six months, angering the city manager’s supporters in the crowd.
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All the spending on the national events angers one supervisor at a Florida airport.
Verb
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Spontaneous applause erupted — and even some tears were shed — at the battered parking structure where Gil had been entombed since the two temblors struck within seconds of each other on June 24.
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Anyone who thinks that the differences between these sects are minor is invited to read about the wars, massacres and persecutions that erupted between them in the 16th and 17th centuries.
Noun
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June was a frenetic month for the metro Atlanta restaurant scene, driven in part by a flurry of downtown openings timed to the beginning of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
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Trump took in tens of millions of dollars in fees from a flurry of new hotel, resort and condo deals overseas that amounts to the biggest property expansion ever in the century since the family business was founded.
Noun
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Tuesday night's explosion from Contreras had actually been 24 hours in the making.
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Authorities in the wealthy city-state of Monaco have launched a manhunt that’s stretched across the border into France after several people were wounded in an explosion caused by a bomb that was planted in a residential building.
Verb
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The incident shut down the busy interstate for hours, snarling traffic during teh evening commute.
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The purists were always going to take issue with a Prancing Horse that had an electric powertrain instead of snarling internal combustion engine, but its unorthodox design, courtesy of Jony Ivy’s LoveFrom studio, has received just as much criticism.
Verb
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With no natural predators and the ability to breed year-round, their populations have exploded over the decades.
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In early January 2025, weeks after UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was gunned down on the streets of New York City, a monstrous wildfire exploded in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles.
Noun
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Jennifer Storms, chief marketing officer for NBCUniversal Television and Streaming, said her team has carefully planned the timing of the spots to coincide with the burst of patriotism and celebration around America 250 events.
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Used on the plate (rather than during cooking), finishing salt adds crunch, elegance and a burst of salinity.
Noun
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The pitcher and batter didn’t acknowledge the outburst, although Wrobleski’s pitch ended up in the dirt for a full count.
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Fresh off a 22-run outburst Friday, the question became what would the Sox do for an encore Saturday.
Cite this Entry
“Flare (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flare%20%28up%29. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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