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to flare

to flare

51 4.4
To become suddenly more intense, often about anger or violence
  • verb
  • /flɛr/
translation icon : estallar
  • So when I flare up, when emotions flare up for me, it goes straight there for me.
  • tempers flared
  • tensions flared
  • flared into violence

You know, that thing gets me, you know, makes me flare a little, you know, make my make my loins turn into lions.

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Examples

  • Tempers are beginning to flare.

  • Though tension was constant, it would flare up especially after days in which fights occurred at school.

    Academic text (2001)
  • I bet those feelings flare up for you.

  • You know, it would flare up every so often, but she stayed mad about it through all eight years.

  • But every now and then your feelings flare up and that's OK.

  • No, Tony, don't flare up.

  • When Law feels her temper starting to flare, she simply takes a timeout.

    Academic text (2002)
  • Witness the debates that flare up over today's movies: Is Avatar anti-American?

    Academic text (2011)
  • At times, tempers flared, and many of the men were unhappy with Powell's leadership.

    Academic text (2007)
  • Tempers often flare at family gatherings during heated discussions.

Synonyms

to explode
vsto flare
187 3.5

To suddenly show a strong feeling, often anger

refers more to sudden intensifying anger or violent activity rather than speech
to erupt
vsto flare
123 4.2

To suddenly start in a strong or violent way, often showing strong feeling

focuses especially on sudden anger or violent intensification
to rage
vsto flare
82 5.0

To continue with great force like a storm or fire

is similar but more often used for sudden angry or violent eruptions
to surge
vsto flare
57 4.1

To move suddenly and strongly forward or upward, like a wave

is about abrupt intensification often in anger or violent contexts
to spike
vsto flare
51 3.4

To rise suddenly and sharply

applies the sudden intensification idea mainly to emotions or violent acts
to blaze
vsto flare
23 4.4

To move very fast in a way people notice

is about sudden growth of emotion or violent activity rather than brightness or motion
to flare up
vsto flare
23 4.7

To become suddenly stronger or worse, often for a short time

is the same sudden intensification often used for anger or violence
to go ballistic
vsto flare
  • Informal
22 7.5

Suddenly become very angry

is similar but can also describe sudden violent escalation beyond anger
to blow up
vsto flare
  • Informal
16 4.7

To suddenly become very angry and lose control

is about sudden intensification that can include violence as well as anger
to see red
vsto flare
  • Informal
10 6.8

To become very angry suddenly

is broader, applying to sudden intensification of anger or violent acts
to burst out
vsto flare
9 3.3

Suddenly say something or make a loud sound

is about sudden intensification of feeling or action rather than speech alone
to burst forth
vsto flare
5 5.4

Suddenly start to happen with a lot of energy

emphasizes eruption specifically in emotions or violent actions
to combust
vsto flare
4 8.2

To become suddenly very angry and lose control

is a more general sudden intensification often linked to violence too
to break open
vsto flare
2 4.7

To start suddenly and strongly, like an argument or a strong feeling

is the same sudden intensification but often used specifically for anger
to flare in
vsto flare
1 6.7

Become suddenly stronger or easier to notice after a quiet time

is similar but especially used for anger or violent activity
to blow a fuse
vsto flare
  • Informal
1 7.4

To suddenly become very angry

covers sudden intensification more generally, not only personal anger
to flame up
vsto flare
1 4.6

To suddenly start burning strongly or become much more intense

is narrower, focusing on sudden emotional or violent intensification rather than literal fire

Antonyms

To make a conflict or tense situation less dangerous and calmer

Phrasal Verbs

23 4.7

To become suddenly stronger or worse, often for a short time

1 6.7

Become suddenly stronger or easier to notice after a quiet time

1 3.8

To become wider at one end like a dress or vase

Compounds

solar flare
  • Specialized
12 6.5

A sudden burst of strong energy from the sun that can disrupt radio and satellite signals

11 6.0

A sudden increase in violence, anger, or symptoms

flare pass
  • Jargon
7.0

A short forward pass to a player running toward the sideline in American football

flare path
  • Specialized
8.3

A line of lights showing the edge of a runway to guide pilots at night or in fog

flare star
  • Specialized
9.7

A small red star that suddenly becomes much brighter for a few minutes because of explosions on its surface

How Intense

to explode
579 2.8
to erupt
123 4.2
to flare
51 4.4
to rise
904 1.0
flicker
41 3.9

Surface Forms

flare infinitive
flared past
flared past participle
flaring present participle
flares third person singular

Etymology

Flare as a verb for emotions or violence comes from the idea of 'flaming up', similar to flame, so tensions can flare when they suddenly grow worse or more intense. The root image makes clear why flare means a sudden rise.