Meaning & use
flare-up
A sudden, brief outburst of something, such as anger, violence, or a medical condition.
See it in a sentence
A minor dispute over parking led to a brief flare-up between the two neighbors.
Her arthritis flare-up made it painful to climb the stairs that week.
A note on using this word
Flare-up is often used with chronic illnesses (a flare-up of symptoms) or with conflicts that reignite after seeming to settle.
Words with a similar meaning
outbursteruption
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
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