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sweltering

adjective

swel·​ter·​ing ˈswel-t(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce sweltering (audio)
: oppressively hot
swelteringly adverb

Examples of sweltering in a Sentence

the air conditioning was broken, and it was sweltering in the office
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Myrtle Beach delivers average January highs of 57 degrees and February highs of 61 degrees — ideal for outdoor exploration without the sweltering summer heat. Lisa A. Beach, USA Today, 13 Nov. 2025 The main hall, essentially a very long gray tent, was filled with the sounds of power tools and hadn’t yet been air-conditioned, giving it the feeling of a sweltering urban jungle. Natasha Bracken, semafor.com, 13 Nov. 2025 In 2018, a judge ordered that a Texas prison’s sweltering conditions amounted to cruel and unusual punishment. Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 13 Nov. 2025 Dressed casually in a white business shirt in the sweltering tropical heat, Newsom made a point of listing climate actions made by two Republican presidents from California, Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon. Reuters, NBC news, 12 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sweltering

Word History

First Known Use

1566, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sweltering was in 1566

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sweltering.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sweltering. Accessed 29 Nov. 2025.

Kids Definition

sweltering

adjective
swel·​ter·​ing
: very hot
swelteringly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on sweltering

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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