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

Pine trees coat the forest floor with mounds of flammable dead leaves that are springy underfoot but which can smolder long after a blaze. — ABC News, 31 July 2026

Wildfires in southwestern France have scorched forests four times the size of Paris, forcing about 224,000 residents and vacationers to flee coastal resorts as smoldering hot spots persist. — Mark Carlson, Los Angeles Times, 31 July 2026

Nils Seval is a surf instructor, but this week he's been spraying down flareups that emerge from blazes still smoldering underground even in areas where big flames have been extinguished. — CBS News, 30 July 2026

When smoldering tensions over Texas flared into the Mexican-American War in 1846, the Bear Flag Revolt was launched. — Literary Hub, 29 July 2026

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

Rhymes for smolder

• bolder
• bowlder
• colder
• folder
• golder
• holder
• molder
• moulder
• older
• polder
• shoulder
• beholder

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