smolder

verb

smol·​der ˈsmōl-dər 

variants or smoulder

smoldered or smouldered; smoldering or smouldering ˈsmōl-d(ə-)riŋ 

intransitive verb

1

a

: to burn sluggishly, without flame, and often with much smoke

b

: to be consumed by smoldering

—often used with out

2

: to exist in a state of suppressed activity

hostilities smoldered for years

3

: to show suppressed anger, hate, or jealousy

eyes smoldering with hate

Examples of smolder in a Sentence

The remains of the campfire smoldered.

Her eyes smoldered with anger.

Anger smoldered in my heart.

Recent Examples on the Web

Prevention There are no known therapies that can stop MGUS or smoldering myeloma from progressing into multiple myeloma. —Barbara Brody, Health, 9 June 2024

South of Tracy, a firefighting crew from Santa Cruz, supported by state prison inmate firefighters, had been battling the fire since around 6 a.m., and by Sunday afternoon were spraying water onto smoldering hot spots, to keep flames away from the Tracy Hills subdivision. —Ryan MacAsero, The Mercury News, 2 June 2024

Everything from food waste to rubber to old electronics went into the smoldering holes. —Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 20 May 2024

Or Pakistan, a time bomb whose fuse is always smoldering? —Bruce Blair, Foreign Affairs, 16 June 2011

Word History

Etymology

Middle English smolderen to smother, from smolder smoke, smudge; akin to Middle Dutch smōlen to smolder

First Known Use

1529, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

smolder

1 of 2 noun

smol·​der

variants or smoulder

ˈsmōl-dər

: a slow smoky fire

smolder

2 of 2 verb

variants or smoulder

smoldered or smouldered; smoldering or smouldering

-d(ə-)riŋ

1

: to burn slowly with smoke and usually without flame

fire was smoldering in the pit

2

: to exist or continue in a hidden or controlled state

discontent smoldered for years before the revolt

3

: to burn inwardly

anger smoldered in my heart