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
Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 11 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
Of those flares, 600 were within a mile of a residence, the agency’s data showed.
—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
The width of certain spectral lines—fingerprints of the light emitted during flares—has long been wider than expected based on standard temperature assumptions.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 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
Our sun's fiery flares are even more extreme than scientists had thought, blasting particles to temperatures six times hotter than earlier estimates, according to new research.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 11 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
Of those flares, 600 were within a mile of a residence, the agency’s data showed.
—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
The width of certain spectral lines—fingerprints of the light emitted during flares—has long been wider than expected based on standard temperature assumptions.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 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
-
The sound of wheels hitting concrete blends with bursts of laughter and cheers.—
Mona Darwish,
Oc Register,
10 Sep. 2025
-
One emerging approach gaining traction is called microlearning, a strategy that delivers academic content in short bursts rather than lengthy lessons.—
Hannah Nwoko,
Parents,
10 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
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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
-
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
-
Howard, a queen bee with a racy reputation, became a scene-stealer with her emotional outbursts and volatile friendship with Maddy (Alexa Demie).—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
13 Sep. 2025
-
With his natural charisma and naked emotion, Thug and Big Bank go all the way back to rapper’s childhood traumas (his apartment complex burning down, his older brother dying in front of him) to try to get to the bottom of his emotional outbursts.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
11 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
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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
-
Israeli attacks on Syrian soil since Assad’s fall, as well as recent outbreaks of fighting in the Sweida region of southern Syria, underscore the ongoing fragility of the Syrian government and concerns over its ability to contain violence and migration outside of its borders.—
David Mednicoff,
The Conversation,
9 Sep. 2025
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One study found that at least 11% of vaccinated children in measles outbreaks acquired infection through contact with a child who had a vaccine exemption.—
Brenda Goodman,
CNN Money,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Flares.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flares. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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