flare up

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of FLARE

to become very angry <naturally I flared up when he insulted my girlfriend>

Synonyms flare (up), flip (out) [slang]

Related Words anger, fulminate, rage, rant, rave, snap, snarl, sputter, storm, tee off, vent, vituperate; bristle, burn, foam, fume, glare, glower, seethe, sizzle, smolder (or smoulder), steam, warm; burst, explode, flare (out), flash, inflame (also enflame), madden

Near Antonyms chill out [slang], cool (off or down), relax; hush, quiet (down)

Antonyms calm (down), simmer down

to develop suddenly and violently <her cold sores flared up again when she got the flu>

Synonyms blaze (up), break out, burst (forth), explode, flame, flare (up)

Related Words rocket, skyrocket; balloon, burgeon (also bourgeon), mount, multiply, mushroom, proliferate, snowball, swell, wax; blow up, detonate, touch off

What made you want to look up flare[-4,verb]? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Put-downs with flair

How to use a word that (literally) drives some people nuts.

Test your vocab with our fun, fast game

Ailurophobia, and 9 other unusual fears