flareup
Americannoun
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a sudden flaring up of flame or light.
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a sudden outburst or intensification, as of anger or tensions.
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a sudden outbreak of violence, disease, or any other condition thought to be quelled, checked, or inactive.
Etymology
Origin of flareup
First recorded in 1830–40; noun use of verb phrase flare up
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Yet barring a massive flareup in violence in the Middle East and another spike in oil prices, the latest bout of inflation is unlikely to get much worse.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 10, 2026
Another warned that warm weather increased the risk of a flareup.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 23, 2026
He faced harsh weather conditions, closed footpaths, severely-blistered feet, and a gout flareup which resulted in a trip to the emergency department.
From BBC • Nov. 1, 2025
Despite a recent flareup in trade frictions, most analysts expect to see a de-escalation in tensions and some form of truce, which would give markets a big boost.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 24, 2025
It bloomed best, most sublimely, in the middle of an emotional flareup of just this kind.
From "Franny and Zooey" by J. D. Salinger
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
