1
as in bursts
a sudden and usually temporary growth of activity
a flare in gift card sales around graduation time
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in explosions
a sudden intense expression of strong feeling
ended the quarrel with a stunning flare of swearwords
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in burns
to shine with a bright harsh light
floodlights flaring into the forbidding empty spaces surrounding the prison
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of flares
Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
Beginning in the 1980s, solar activity started decreasing overall, with each subsequent 11-year sunspot cycle seeing fewer sunspots, fewer flares and fewer coronal mass ejections.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Around them, disco lights spill out from beneath a motorhome, piercing the haze from flares and exhaust fumes.
—Jonathan Hawkins, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025
The Railroad Commission approved eight flares within 5 miles of the town during the study period and 280 across surrounding Dimmit County, according to agency data.
—ProPublica, 4 Sep. 2025
Except for the rare circumstances where the Sun flares, the Sun produces only negligible quantities of gamma-rays.
—Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 4 Sep. 2025
About two hours later, the US Air Force dropped military flares in the sky, with rumors stating this was an attempt to cover up and discredit the UFO incident that occurred earlier in the evening.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2025
New Atlas, 10 Sep. 2025
The other flares upward, suggesting imminent propulsion.
—Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 30 Aug. 2025
The hem of the dress flares out and has plenty of pleats, which not only add volume but also hide pesky lines.
—Nicol Natale, People.com, 5 Aug. 2025
But watch those eyes widen when suddenly there’s a test of guts and his meanness flares again.
—Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2025
Of course, there’s always a risk that inflation flares up again, or that inflation doesn’t quite hit the FOMC’s 2% target.
—Simon Moore, Forbes, 15 Oct. 2024
The flattering design includes an A-line skirt that flares at the bottom.
—Hannah Rice, Rolling Stone, 2 Oct. 2024
Noun
However, the report noted that the MQ-9B drone—capable of flying over 30 hours for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions—is not designed to be equipped with signal flares or missiles, which may be used during airspace intrusion response.
—Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
Beginning in the 1980s, solar activity started decreasing overall, with each subsequent 11-year sunspot cycle seeing fewer sunspots, fewer flares and fewer coronal mass ejections.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Around them, disco lights spill out from beneath a motorhome, piercing the haze from flares and exhaust fumes.
—Jonathan Hawkins, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025
The Railroad Commission approved eight flares within 5 miles of the town during the study period and 280 across surrounding Dimmit County, according to agency data.
—ProPublica, 4 Sep. 2025
Except for the rare circumstances where the Sun flares, the Sun produces only negligible quantities of gamma-rays.
—Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 4 Sep. 2025
About two hours later, the US Air Force dropped military flares in the sky, with rumors stating this was an attempt to cover up and discredit the UFO incident that occurred earlier in the evening.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
When arthritis pain flares up, the area around the offending joint becomes inflamed and slightly acidic.
—New Atlas, 10 Sep. 2025
The other flares upward, suggesting imminent propulsion.
—Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 30 Aug. 2025
The hem of the dress flares out and has plenty of pleats, which not only add volume but also hide pesky lines.
—Nicol Natale, People.com, 5 Aug. 2025
But watch those eyes widen when suddenly there’s a test of guts and his meanness flares again.
—Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2025
Of course, there’s always a risk that inflation flares up again, or that inflation doesn’t quite hit the FOMC’s 2% target.
—Simon Moore, Forbes, 15 Oct. 2024
The flattering design includes an A-line skirt that flares at the bottom.
—Hannah Rice, Rolling Stone, 2 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flares
Noun
-
Available in Piña + Plumeria and Strawberry + Shea, these bold combos infuse your laundry with irresistible bursts of scent that last from wash to wear.—
Adam Mills,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
-
RDREs use a detonation wave that races around a circular channel, which produces short, high-pressure bursts that drive up thrust and efficiency.—
Josh Dinner,
Space.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Video footage from the area showed multiple large explosions in Gaza City on Tuesday as the IDF pressed its offensive.—
Kevin Shalvey,
ABC News,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Aside from heavy tanks and artillery firing salvos leading to big explosions and heavy smoke on the training area, infantry units also charged forward on motorcycles, quad bikes or on foot under the cover of drones.—
Frederik Pleitgen,
CNN Money,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Athens, Greece Athens glows beneath Mediterranean light, where marble ruins rise from its timeworn hillsides—from the world-famous Parthenon to the Temple of Hephaestus.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Some days my skin glows, and on others stress, and life’s ebbs and flows, bring breakouts, sun spots, dryness, and uneven texture.—
Micaela English,
Flow Space,
27 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Theirs was a life together cut off in its infancy, but still the flame burns bright.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
8 Sep. 2025
-
The spark becomes a blaze, and trust between citizens and the military burns with it.—
Eric Chastain,
Twin Cities,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Ali was scoring plenty with jabs and flurries, but his attempts to land big punches mostly fell flat.—
Vann R. Newkirk II,
The Atlantic,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Thin air and unpredictable wind flurries near Everest’s highest elevations prevent the drones from operating at some of the final camps leading to the summit.—
Mack DeGeurin,
Popular Science,
27 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The astonishing Laanstra-Corn does not play Hedvig purely as an innocent; there’s something as dangerous and emotionally labile in her shocked face as there is in Gregers’s explosive outbursts.—
Helen Shaw,
New Yorker,
18 Sep. 2025
-
This can trigger sudden outbursts or aggressive behaviors.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Based on Alice Oseman's popular webcomic turned graphic novels, Heartstopper is loaded with longing glares, timid greetings, delicate touches, and all the definitive hallmarks of young love as two classmates fall for each other at Truham Grammar School for Boys.—
James Mercadante,
EW.com,
13 Aug. 2025
-
The second season promises eight episodes of more deadpan humor, soulless glares from Jenna Ortega as the titular character and even a Lady Gaga cameo, as Wednesday takes on another eerie supernatural mystery at Nevermore Academy.—
Grace Tucker,
The Enquirer,
8 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Still, any further restrictions on shots by ACIP could have trickle-down effects, further depressing already declining immunization rates for vaccine-preventable diseases and raising the risk of outbreaks.—
Annika Kim Constantino,
CNBC,
18 Sep. 2025
-
If childhood-vaccination rates plummet, giving pathogens new targets in unprotected babies and young children, outbreaks won’t necessarily stay contained to those age groups.—
Jamie Ducharme,
The Atlantic,
17 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Flares.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flares. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.
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