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
Media reports that Saudi Arabia will lift its decades-old ban on alcohol in select tourist zones have prompted the flare-up of a vigorous online debate in the conservative kingdom, with some voices in support and others in strong opposition.
—
Amira El-Fekki, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 May 2025
Whether the rags in the garage were soaked in gasoline (basis trades) or kerosene (swap spread trades), the preconditions for a flare-up were in place.
—George Calhoun, Forbes.com, 25 May 2025
But anecdotal evidence suggests there have been more flare-ups in recent years, as environmentally minded EV owners square off against more traditional motorists at gas stations and in parking lots.
—Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 24 May 2025
But living with chronic illness means making accommodations and adjusting every decision to reduce the risk of a flare-up.
—Melanie Curry, People.com, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for flare-up
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Amira El-Fekki, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 May 2025
Whether the rags in the garage were soaked in gasoline (basis trades) or kerosene (swap spread trades), the preconditions for a flare-up were in place.
—George Calhoun, Forbes.com, 25 May 2025
But anecdotal evidence suggests there have been more flare-ups in recent years, as environmentally minded EV owners square off against more traditional motorists at gas stations and in parking lots.
—Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 24 May 2025
But living with chronic illness means making accommodations and adjusting every decision to reduce the risk of a flare-up.
—Melanie Curry, People.com, 23 May 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 31 May. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
flare-up
noun
: a sudden appearance or worsening of the symptoms of a disease or condition
an asthmatic flare-up
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share