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

The planes are equipped to locate fires, including small or smoldering fires that might otherwise go undetected, and provide incident commanders with aerial intelligence to help guide firefighting operations. — Brian Maass, CBS News, 3 Nov. 2026

Although firefighters quickly suppressed the Lachman fire — named for a street near the Skull Rock Trailhead — the fire continued to smolder and burn underground within the root structure of dense vegetation. — City News Service, Daily News, 2 Nov. 2026

Since May 2022, garbage has been smoldering deep underground, releasing toxic fumes into nearby communities of Castaic and Valverde. — Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026

Prior to this series of incidents, police had found a smoldering car at a different location earlier that morning, Cleveland 19 reported. — Samira Asma-Sadeque, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 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