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
Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 13 May 2026
Both agencies agree there is a chance for additional M flares and maybe even X-class eruptions over the coming days as sunspot regions AR4436 and AR4432 continue to evolve.
—Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 11 May 2026
For many people living with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), flares can feel sudden and unpredictable—appearing without warning and, often, without a clear reason why.
—Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 11 May 2026
The lighting was transparent and natural, the lens flares were appropriate and beautiful.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 7 May 2026
Our Milky Way was recently active, with Sagittarius A* still emitting occasional flares.
—Big Think, 4 May 2026
The supporters were urged not to storm the field and hundreds of stewards lined up to ensure there were no injuries, but the fans seemed to be content to celebrate in the stands with flares, beer and songs.
—ABC News, 2 May 2026
An adjustable tie waistband allows for a comfortable fit while the fabric hugs the curves of your hips and flares at mid-calf for a fun, spring-ready finish.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 27 Apr. 2026
Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 4 May 2026
At the same time, flares themselves are stressful, creating a vicious cycle in which symptoms and emotional distress feed into each other.
—Mark Marino, PEOPLE, 14 Apr. 2026
Within any chimp group, violence flares occasionally — but it is usually dampened by long friendships.
—Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Apr. 2026
But then, in April 2019, his illness flares.
—Courtney Crowder, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026
There’s a funny reason why the pain flares in your upper face and forehead, a bit of a distance from the area responsible for the cold.
—Julia Daye, Popular Science, 2 Apr. 2026
The rear light flares bright when braking to add visibility for trailing riders and drivers.
—Erica Zazo, Outside, 27 Mar. 2026
With less than seven weeks left in the regular season, runways can shorten quickly if an injury flares up again.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026
The dress also appeared to have a wider skirt that flares out at the hem, which had a scalloped trim.
—Tara Larson, Footwear News, 27 Dec. 2025
Noun
Southampton’s team arrived at St Mary’s amid a sea of red smoke from the flares lit by the thousands of fans who had lined the street to greet them.
—Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 13 May 2026
Both agencies agree there is a chance for additional M flares and maybe even X-class eruptions over the coming days as sunspot regions AR4436 and AR4432 continue to evolve.
—Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 11 May 2026
For many people living with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), flares can feel sudden and unpredictable—appearing without warning and, often, without a clear reason why.
—Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 11 May 2026
The lighting was transparent and natural, the lens flares were appropriate and beautiful.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 7 May 2026
Our Milky Way was recently active, with Sagittarius A* still emitting occasional flares.
—Big Think, 4 May 2026
The supporters were urged not to storm the field and hundreds of stewards lined up to ensure there were no injuries, but the fans seemed to be content to celebrate in the stands with flares, beer and songs.
—ABC News, 2 May 2026
An adjustable tie waistband allows for a comfortable fit while the fabric hugs the curves of your hips and flares at mid-calf for a fun, spring-ready finish.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 27 Apr. 2026
Verb
The sleeveless design features a flattering smocked waist that flares out into a relaxed, flowy skirt, creating an elegant silhouette.
—Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 4 May 2026
At the same time, flares themselves are stressful, creating a vicious cycle in which symptoms and emotional distress feed into each other.
—Mark Marino, PEOPLE, 14 Apr. 2026
Within any chimp group, violence flares occasionally — but it is usually dampened by long friendships.
—Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Apr. 2026
But then, in April 2019, his illness flares.
—Courtney Crowder, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026
There’s a funny reason why the pain flares in your upper face and forehead, a bit of a distance from the area responsible for the cold.
—Julia Daye, Popular Science, 2 Apr. 2026
The rear light flares bright when braking to add visibility for trailing riders and drivers.
—Erica Zazo, Outside, 27 Mar. 2026
With less than seven weeks left in the regular season, runways can shorten quickly if an injury flares up again.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026
The dress also appeared to have a wider skirt that flares out at the hem, which had a scalloped trim.
—Tara Larson, Footwear News, 27 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flares
Noun
-
The discordant, Bernard Herrmann-esque bursts of María Portugal’s rich score ratchet up the suspense and foreboding.—
Sheri Linden,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2026
-
We were immediately greeted by a resplendence of wildflowers, including purple-pink woolly bluecurls, bright orange southern bush monkey flower, red bursts of cardinal catchfly and at least one Catalina Mariposa lily.—
Jaclyn Cosgrove,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
Herrero also sought to use practical effects throughout the film, including gunfire and explosions, often enhanced with visual effects.—
Ed Meza,
Variety,
16 May 2026
-
Rubin, with the exquisite detail of its images, is well placed to find these types of events, in which stars disappear in explosions that can be too faint for other surveys to see.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
Come evening, the pizza oven glows or a local farm-to-table chef cooks as the light fades.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
-
The blue-white light of the star Spica will be visible twinkling to the upper right of the lunar disk in the constellation Virgo, while the red supergiant Arcturus glows to its upper left in Bootes.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In the opening minutes of Dutton Ranch, Beth and Rip are blissfully happy on their new Montana ranch — until a wildfire breaks out and burns their entire property to the ground.—
Samantha Stutsman,
PEOPLE,
15 May 2026
-
Kristen finds her way back to her natural vivacity, but the brightness burns differently.—
Sheri Linden,
HollywoodReporter,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
The latest flurries that dusted parts of the Sierra Nevada this week are unlikely to do much to ease California’s snow drought.—
Chaewon Chung,
Sacbee.com,
22 Apr. 2026
-
As the rain and snow fall, flurries can melt, mix together and refreeze just before hitting the ground, according to Jackson Macfarlane, a meteorologist with the weather service’s Boise office.—
Hali Smith
April 14,
Idaho Statesman,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Even their coach embodies a respectful, reflective male ideal and disciplines his athletes rather than celebrating them for outbursts of anger.—
Anna Rinderspacher,
Glamour,
20 May 2026
-
Even Republicans, who usually feigned ignorance about the President’s social-media outbursts, were weighing in.—
Jason Zengerle,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
The team’s test bots homed in from a maximum of 600 meters (1,970 feet) away outdoors despite wind gusts and camera-blinding sun glares.—
Jacek Krywko,
Scientific American,
13 May 2026
-
Since it was released at the end of 2023, the hulking, angular vehicle has been subject to jokes about its appearance and glares from people who disagree with CEO Elon Musk’s politics.—
Andrea Guzmán,
Austin American Statesman,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
There are four virus strains known to cause Ebola disease in humans, and three have caused large outbreaks (Zaire, Sudan, and Bundibugyo).—
Beth Mole,
ArsTechnica,
18 May 2026
-
Why This Ebola Outbreak Is More Concerning Past Congo outbreaks including the catastrophic 2018 to 2020 epidemic that killed nearly 2,300 people were caused by the Zaire strain of Ebola.—
Jesse Pines,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flares.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flares. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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