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flare

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verb

as in to glow
to shine with a bright harsh light floodlights flaring into the forbidding empty spaces surrounding the prison

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of flare
Noun
There’s no denying that the second-generation Pontiac Firebird Trans Am muscle car tipped the scale toward kitsch, adding flares, spoilers, and a set of cringeworthy decals—available as of 1973 as a $55 option—to an otherwise respectable design. Robert Ross, Robb Report, 27 June 2025 Lace sleeves and a neck scarf were added for extra flare. Ashlyn Robinette, People.com, 30 June 2025
Verb
The fireball was spotted over the southeastern U.S. at 12:25 EDT on Friday, (1625 GMT), visibly flaring as the extreme heat of atmospheric friction overwhelmed the ancient chunk of solar system debris. Anthony Wood, Space.com, 27 June 2025 Where my body flared like a window, then smoldered like stone, ivy flickers. Esther Lin, The New York Review of Books, 26 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for flare
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flare
Noun
  • The singer announced the surprise album less than 12 hours before its release, with billboards and a flurry of Instagram posts signaling its arrival.
    Brittany Spanos, Rolling Stone, 11 July 2025
  • Conflicting accounts from workers and federal officials have raised a flurry of questions as DHS officials say their agents were shot at.
    Michelle Krupa, CNN Money, 11 July 2025
Noun
  • The galaxy can be seen undergoing a burst of star formation thanks to the tidal influence of a galactic neighbor, with the glowing red form of an emission nebula visible throughout, giving the impression of a cosmic firework display.
    Anthony Wood, Space.com, 13 July 2025
  • The raging river bursts from its banks around this time, sweeping homes, cars, campers and cabins downstream.
    Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 12 July 2025
Noun
  • Now my house is awash with the LED glow of charging bulbs that are just waiting for the next power outage to do their trick.
    arkansasonline.com, arkansasonline.com, 10 July 2025
  • Set in San Francisco in the early 1990s, this coming-of-age novel shines with a heady, nostalgic glow while never ignoring reality.
    Connie Ogle, Boston Herald, 10 July 2025
Verb
  • The pair, who met as college undergrads, both burned with idealism and recognized their privilege could be leveraged for a game-changing idea.
    Carole Horst, Variety, 13 Sep. 2023
  • The Ellen MacArthur Foundation promotes circular fashion and says that, in the United States, an amount of clothing equal to a garbage truck is ferried to landfills or burned every second.
    Neeti Mehra, Treehugger, 13 Sep. 2023
Noun
  • Willi Castro belted a solo shot off Hodge to make it 5-0, Lewis singled in a run, and Harrison Bader completed the six-run outburst with a two-run homer of his own off Hodge.
    Dan Hayes, New York Times, 9 July 2025
  • For its part, the Kremlin has played down any suggestion that President Trump’s recent critical outburst has had much impact.
    Matthew Chance, CNN Money, 9 July 2025
Noun
  • The Yankees’ double-digit explosion on a rainy night provided plenty of breathing room for a bullpen that has been taxed and decimated by injuries.
    Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 9 July 2025
  • In recent years, there has been an explosion of education entrepreneurship.
    Andrew Wimer, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025
Noun
  • The cosmic duo will be visible for around two and a half hours before the glare of the rising sun hides the Pleiades from view.
    Anthony Wood, Space.com, 4 July 2025
  • With a full understanding about both the financial stakes and the glare of a national spotlight, Tucker has avoided the distractions that could have derailed his performance.
    Phil Rogers, Forbes.com, 3 July 2025
Verb
  • Someone cut a hole in the canvas top and dumped a Molotov cocktail into its soon flaming red interior.
    Marco della Cava, USA Today, 3 July 2025
  • While his bandmates pranced around the stage with black dildos bobbing from their noses and top hats jauntily cocked, Forrest would open the show in a Joker-esque getup, holding a flaming Bible.
    Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 8 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Flare.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flare. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.

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