as in searing
having a notably high temperature
it was boiling in that car, and the owners had foolishly left their pet in it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in steaming
to be excited or emotionally stirred up with anger
the passengers were boiling when they found out the flight was delayed yet again
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in stewing
to cook in a liquid heated to the point that it gives off steam
boil the potatoes until they are tender before you try to mash them
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of boiling
Stefanie Waldek, Space.com, 13 Aug. 2025
One idea is that about a million years after the Big Bang, the universe cooled and underwent a phase transition, an event similar to how boiling water turns liquid into gas.
—Yasemin Saplakoglu, Scientific American, 3 Mar. 2020
If candy is still stuck on, pour more boiling water over whatever hasn’t come clean.
—Washington Post, 3 Dec. 2019
The simplest fix could be as easy as boiling water—boil a medium-size pot once or twice per week, and pour down the drain.
—Country Living Staff, Country Living, 14 Oct. 2019
Although boiling water is always a set temperature, eggs coming from the fridge or countertop are not.
—Genevieve Ko, latimes.com, 18 June 2019
Organizers shared tips to help prevent the virus, which include washing hands with soap for more than 30 seconds, eating food that is thoroughly cooked and boiling water before drinking.
—Rachel Axon, USA TODAY Sports, 6 Feb. 2018
More boiling water: Boil water advisories typically happen due to a water main break and/or a loss of pressure in the water system.
—Brian Manzullo, Detroit Free Press, 24 Oct. 2017
The station is home to two boiling water reactors, capable of powering more than 2.25 million homes and businesses.
—Staff Report, The Aegis, 6 June 2017
Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 2025
Cashews are softened in boiling water to make up the creamy and rich.
—Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Sep. 2025
Start by boiling a pot of hot water on your stove and pouring it slowly down your drain to loosen up the hair, food, or other debris.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 18 Sep. 2025
Maple syrup is a sweetener made from the sap of maple trees, primarily sugar maples, by boiling the sap to concentrate the sugar.
—Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 15 Sep. 2025
Either way, the surface of the world becomes literally boiling hot.
—Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
Staffers can’t simply swim into the boiling springs and pluck debris out with a net.
—Owen Clarke, Outside, 11 Sep. 2025
Gently add the eggs to the rapidly boiling water.
—Cody Godwin, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
The Watt steam engine once turned boiling water heat into motion.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 1 Sep. 2025
Adjective
Agrawal and her team studied ionic liquids — salts that are liquid at sub-boiling temperatures (below 212 degrees Fahrenheit, or 100 degrees Celsius) — as a potential hospitable environment for life.
—Stefanie Waldek, Space.com, 13 Aug. 2025
One idea is that about a million years after the Big Bang, the universe cooled and underwent a phase transition, an event similar to how boiling water turns liquid into gas.
—Yasemin Saplakoglu, Scientific American, 3 Mar. 2020
If candy is still stuck on, pour more boiling water over whatever hasn’t come clean.
—Washington Post, 3 Dec. 2019
The simplest fix could be as easy as boiling water—boil a medium-size pot once or twice per week, and pour down the drain.
—Country Living Staff, Country Living, 14 Oct. 2019
Although boiling water is always a set temperature, eggs coming from the fridge or countertop are not.
—Genevieve Ko, latimes.com, 18 June 2019
Organizers shared tips to help prevent the virus, which include washing hands with soap for more than 30 seconds, eating food that is thoroughly cooked and boiling water before drinking.
—Rachel Axon, USA TODAY Sports, 6 Feb. 2018
More boiling water: Boil water advisories typically happen due to a water main break and/or a loss of pressure in the water system.
—Brian Manzullo, Detroit Free Press, 24 Oct. 2017
The station is home to two boiling water reactors, capable of powering more than 2.25 million homes and businesses.
—Staff Report, The Aegis, 6 June 2017
Verb
This setup is ready for real cooking, not just boiling water or reheating prepackaged meals.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 2025
Cashews are softened in boiling water to make up the creamy and rich.
—Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Sep. 2025
Start by boiling a pot of hot water on your stove and pouring it slowly down your drain to loosen up the hair, food, or other debris.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 18 Sep. 2025
Maple syrup is a sweetener made from the sap of maple trees, primarily sugar maples, by boiling the sap to concentrate the sugar.
—Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 15 Sep. 2025
Either way, the surface of the world becomes literally boiling hot.
—Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
Staffers can’t simply swim into the boiling springs and pluck debris out with a net.
—Owen Clarke, Outside, 11 Sep. 2025
Gently add the eggs to the rapidly boiling water.
—Cody Godwin, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
The Watt steam engine once turned boiling water heat into motion.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 1 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for boiling
Adjective
-
The Dutch oven will get ripping hot for searing, but also insulate the braise, holding in much of the moisture and producing tender, fall-off-the-bone meat.—
Emily Johnson,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
22 Sep. 2025
-
Components like the cladding and divertor inside a reactor face constant stress from searing plasma and radiation.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The expansive lawn is dotted with games—cornhole, soccer, and ladder toss for the kids—and solo fire pits where families gather under starry skies to toast s’mores or enjoy a steaming mug of hot cider.—
Christine Chitnis,
Vogue,
24 Sep. 2025
-
Baking or steaming them helps preserve their nutrients, while roasting brings out their natural sweetness.—
Kathleen Ferraro,
Verywell Health,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
While Alex is stewing over her giant pot of daddy issues, Mia and Stella have their own problem now that Alex is being removed from pre-Olympics coverage.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
17 Sep. 2025
-
The habit of staying up at night and replaying all the embarrassing moments of your life while stewing in self-blame isn’t just a personality quirk.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
20 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
As Priestly emerged to take her place on the front row, speculation immediately began swirling through the Dolce & Gabbana’s Metropole venue.—
Luke Leitch,
Vogue,
27 Sep. 2025
-
Forecasters say Humberto could pull Imelda to the east; could pull Imelda apart; could form one even larger storm; or in the rarest of possibilities, could engage in the Fujiwhara Effect swirling around a spot similar to what Philippe and Rina did in 2023.—
Center Square,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Please tell me the sequel could answer the most burning question of the ’00s: How could Austin not recognize Sam in that mask?—
Stephanie McNeal,
Glamour,
13 Aug. 2025
-
Cooper, 30, asked Hargitay one more burning question about the actors' on-screen alter egos: will Olivia and Elliot ever end up together?—
Victoria Edel,
People.com,
26 June 2025
Verb
-
In the summer of 2022 when inflation was raging at four-decade highs and consumer sentiment plunged to its lowest level on record, Americans continued to spend at a solid clip in the following months.—
Bryan Mena,
CNN Money,
26 Sep. 2025
-
But the American leaders who midwifed the UN as World War II was still raging were somber realists, not utopians.—
Andreas Kluth,
Mercury News,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Jethwa is quietly powerful, Chandan’s vulnerability simmering beneath the surface, while Khatter’s Shoaib is ready to speak up and fight if anyone should dare provoke him (there are moments that flip this dynamic on its head with superb effect).—
Proma Khosla,
IndieWire,
25 Sep. 2025
-
With affiliate resistance and political tensions still simmering, the show's future—and its distribution—remain uncertain.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
That was perhaps nicely encapsulated in his 5-yard touchdown run through maybe six defenders after being spun around with his feet in the air before resetting and churning back upfield.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
25 Sep. 2025
-
The tropics are heating up, with Hurricane Gabrielle and Tropical Storm Humberto both churning in the Atlantic as well as a new system that could strengthen and possibly impact the Southeast next week.—
Kenton Gewecke,
ABC News,
25 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Boiling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/boiling. Accessed 3 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share