1
: a sudden outburst or intensification
a flare-up of hostilities
2
: a sudden bursting (as of a smoldering fire) into flame or light
a danger of flare-ups
3
: a sudden appearance or worsening of the symptoms of a disease or condition
an asthmatic flare-up
Examples of flare-up in a Sentence
took medication to prevent a flare-up of her asthma
there's no need for an angry flare-up, as we'll take care of the problem immediately
Recent Examples on the Web
And while each type presents differently, flare-ups across the board are often triggered by stress, thanks to the gut-brain connection.
—
Cheyenne Buckingham, SELF, 9 Dec. 2025
Thailand’s foreign ministry met with the Malaysian ambassador and the chargé d’affaires of the United States following the latest flare-up, Nikorndej said Monday, without providing further details.
—Kocha Olarn, CNN Money, 8 Dec. 2025
Even two days after the fire began, smoke continued to drift out of the charred skeletons of the buildings from the occasional flare-up.
—David Rising, Arkansas Online, 29 Nov. 2025
An attempt to shoot the film in 2024 had been abandoned following a flare-up in the conflict between Israel and militant group Hezbollah.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 28 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flare-up
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Cheyenne Buckingham, SELF, 9 Dec. 2025
Thailand’s foreign ministry met with the Malaysian ambassador and the chargé d’affaires of the United States following the latest flare-up, Nikorndej said Monday, without providing further details.
—Kocha Olarn, CNN Money, 8 Dec. 2025
Even two days after the fire began, smoke continued to drift out of the charred skeletons of the buildings from the occasional flare-up.
—David Rising, Arkansas Online, 29 Nov. 2025
An attempt to shoot the film in 2024 had been abandoned following a flare-up in the conflict between Israel and militant group Hezbollah.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 28 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flare-up
Cite this Entry
“Flare-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flare-up. Accessed 16 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
flare-up
noun
: a sudden appearance or worsening of the symptoms of a disease or condition
an asthmatic flare-up
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