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)
Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 3 Feb. 2026
Authorities in the southwestern province are battling one of the deadliest flare-ups in years, as insurgents in the resource-rich province bordering Iran and Afghanistan step up assaults on security forces, civilians and infrastructure.
—Reuters, NBC news, 1 Feb. 2026
Yet the relationship is still fraught with tension regarding longstanding territorial dispute; the most recent flare-up happened after an Indian citizen born in Arunachal Pradesh, which China claims as its territory, was detained in Shanghai’s airport for 18 hours.
—Brian Wong, Fortune, 31 Jan. 2026
Days are pockmarked with flare-ups and altercations between federal agents and residents.
—Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 24 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flare (up)
Noun
This can create a sudden flare-up, increasing the risk of fire.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 3 Feb. 2026
Authorities in the southwestern province are battling one of the deadliest flare-ups in years, as insurgents in the resource-rich province bordering Iran and Afghanistan step up assaults on security forces, civilians and infrastructure.
—Reuters, NBC news, 1 Feb. 2026
Yet the relationship is still fraught with tension regarding longstanding territorial dispute; the most recent flare-up happened after an Indian citizen born in Arunachal Pradesh, which China claims as its territory, was detained in Shanghai’s airport for 18 hours.
—Brian Wong, Fortune, 31 Jan. 2026
Days are pockmarked with flare-ups and altercations between federal agents and residents.
—Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 24 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flare (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flare (up)
Verb
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But every time Trump takes to social media, angered by drug trafficking – or drone incursions, Sheinbaum Pardo has deftly reminded him of their working partnership, Jacobson said.—
Lauren Villagran,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 2026
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In one of those realities (the actual one most of us are living in), a growing number of people across the political spectrum are angered, terrified and disgusted by actions being taken in their names by people and agencies which seem to have little or no accountability.—
Brenda Looper,
Arkansas Online,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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News of the possible project erupted last month after reports emerged that the federal government was eyeing the large, empty warehouse in a south Kansas City industrial park for an immigration detention center with thousands of beds.—
Chris Higgins,
Kansas City Star,
13 Feb. 2026
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Violence erupted in Kansas in 1854, not over fugitive slaves but over the prospect of slavery taking hold there.—
Jake Lundberg,
The Atlantic,
12 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Her voice is intimate and resonant, whether cut up into indistinct background flurries or pushed to the front of the mix.—
Alex Robert Ross,
Pitchfork,
13 Feb. 2026
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The idea has spawned a flurry of products which are helping their customers resist the temptation of automatically picking up their phone and scrolling social media during any and every lull in the day.—
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez,
Fortune,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
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In a news conference Friday, a spokesperson for the Pest County Police Headquarters said an explosion in one of the rooms likely caused the fire.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Feb. 2026
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Some parents told the Tribune that pandemic-era growth seems to have set off a snowball effect, fueled by an explosion of online and at-home learning resources.—
Kate Armanini,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The scale of this year’s snowfall temporarily closed Hokkaido’s main airport last week, stranding hundreds of passengers, while snarling other travel, delaying train services and forcing the closure of some highways.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
4 Feb. 2026
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But a computer outage that snarled airlines nationwide forced Kerkering to change his flight back to Philadelphia.—
Matt Gelb,
New York Times,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The benign case is that China is doing small-scale testing to ensure its weapons won't explode accidentally.—
Geoff Brumfiel,
NPR,
11 Feb. 2026
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Butler started WeSchool more recently, when interest in at-home learning exploded during the pandemic.—
Kate Armanini,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The beloved Lip Sleeping Mask is a treat for lips thanks to a burst of coconut oil, shea butter, and murumuru seed butter that deliver serious moisture overnight.—
Francesca Krempa,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Feb. 2026
-
There will be a burst in there at some point.—
Mike Sando,
New York Times,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
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For his courtroom outbursts, Davis found Thompson in contempt of court and added a little more than four and a half years to his sentence.—
Monroe Trombly,
Louisville Courier Journal,
10 Feb. 2026
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Chicago answered, with Collin Sexton matching the 12-point outburst and getting enough help from Anfernee Simons and Jaden Ivey to grab a slim 31-27 edge.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flare (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flare%20%28up%29. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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