1
as in glows
to be on fire especially brightly
all evening long we just sat there, contentedly watching the Yule log burn
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in scorches
to set (something) on fire
it is not a good idea to try to burn old papers in the sink
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in steams
to be excited or emotionally stirred up with anger
he came home burning with anger because of a reprimand at work
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in flames
to shine with a bright harsh light
the bright streetlight outside our motel room burned all night long
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in deceives
to cause to believe what is untrue
he's been burned before, so he's careful to double-check such claims now
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in consumes
to make complete use of
heedlessly burning the country's resources without any concern for future generations
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in brooks
a natural body of running water smaller than a river
the walkers forded the shallow burn and then came upon a field of gorse
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of burns
Kaelyn Lynch, Outside, 23 Jan. 2026
According to Amnesty International, Israel used white phosphorus, a highly reactive chemical that burns at extremely high temperatures when exposed to air.
—Josiane Yazbeck, The Conversation, 22 Jan. 2026
But if Broncos head coach Sean Payton, a future Hall of Famer and offensive whiz, burns that blitz early, Maye and the offense must patch a few holes the Texans exploited in order to play catch-up.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 20 Jan. 2026
Anything that burns fuel needs to be properly ventilated and inspected regularly, and never operate a fuel-burning device inside your home unless it was designed for interior use.
—Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 20 Jan. 2026
Suddenly, Joan burns to be one of the few people to go to space.
—Kaycee Sloan, Cincinnati Enquirer, 16 Jan. 2026
Your light burns so bright in all our hearts!
—Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 11 Jan. 2026
Your light burns so bright in all our hearts!
—Alex Heigl, PEOPLE, 10 Jan. 2026
Oil splatters can leave a residue that burns onto the stovetop.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 7 Jan. 2026
CBS News, 31 Jan. 2026
The delivery of cytokines can stimulate the white blood cell production that is damaged by exposure; treatment with potassium iodide or Prussian blue can help eliminate radioactive particles from the body; and proper washing can prevent skin burns that might take days to show up.
—New Atlas, 28 Jan. 2026
The water reportedly caused an allegoric reaction and severe burns to the detainee’s throat and nasal passages.
—Lautaro Grinspan, AJC.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Many current and planned lunar landers rely on propellants that produce methane as a byproduct during the engine burns required to slow a spacecraft for touchdown.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Two people suffered burns during a house fire in Milford on Sunday.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 26 Jan. 2026
Reducing it all to rubble can frustrate, yes, but those burns leave a mark.
—Blake Simons, IndieWire, 26 Jan. 2026
Medics rushed a 37-year-old woman in critical but stable condition to Jacobi Medical Center, where she is being treated for burns, according to police.
—Theodore Parisienne, New York Daily News, 25 Jan. 2026
Fire managers carefully monitor prescribed burns and will plan to conduct activities during safest possible burn windows.
—Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 9 Jan. 2026
Verb
Your body burns additional calories in the cold from shivering.
—Kaelyn Lynch, Outside, 23 Jan. 2026
According to Amnesty International, Israel used white phosphorus, a highly reactive chemical that burns at extremely high temperatures when exposed to air.
—Josiane Yazbeck, The Conversation, 22 Jan. 2026
But if Broncos head coach Sean Payton, a future Hall of Famer and offensive whiz, burns that blitz early, Maye and the offense must patch a few holes the Texans exploited in order to play catch-up.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 20 Jan. 2026
Anything that burns fuel needs to be properly ventilated and inspected regularly, and never operate a fuel-burning device inside your home unless it was designed for interior use.
—Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 20 Jan. 2026
Suddenly, Joan burns to be one of the few people to go to space.
—Kaycee Sloan, Cincinnati Enquirer, 16 Jan. 2026
Your light burns so bright in all our hearts!
—Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 11 Jan. 2026
Your light burns so bright in all our hearts!
—Alex Heigl, PEOPLE, 10 Jan. 2026
Oil splatters can leave a residue that burns onto the stovetop.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 7 Jan. 2026
Noun
Vitini Rammin, director of the Trauma and Burn Program at HCA Florida Kendall Hospital, said Santiago suffered second- and third-degree burns to about 18% of his body.
—CBS News, 31 Jan. 2026
The delivery of cytokines can stimulate the white blood cell production that is damaged by exposure; treatment with potassium iodide or Prussian blue can help eliminate radioactive particles from the body; and proper washing can prevent skin burns that might take days to show up.
—New Atlas, 28 Jan. 2026
The water reportedly caused an allegoric reaction and severe burns to the detainee’s throat and nasal passages.
—Lautaro Grinspan, AJC.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Many current and planned lunar landers rely on propellants that produce methane as a byproduct during the engine burns required to slow a spacecraft for touchdown.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Two people suffered burns during a house fire in Milford on Sunday.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 26 Jan. 2026
Reducing it all to rubble can frustrate, yes, but those burns leave a mark.
—Blake Simons, IndieWire, 26 Jan. 2026
Medics rushed a 37-year-old woman in critical but stable condition to Jacobi Medical Center, where she is being treated for burns, according to police.
—Theodore Parisienne, New York Daily News, 25 Jan. 2026
Fire managers carefully monitor prescribed burns and will plan to conduct activities during safest possible burn windows.
—Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 9 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burns
Verb
-
Each packs several pieces of shrimp in a thick, chewy wheat-starch wrapper that glows almost silvery under the light.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Feb. 2026
-
The bill was able to move forward after Castillo agreed to a carve-out for GloFish, a type of fish that glows due to the insertion of Green Flourescent Protein (GFP) into its DNA.—
Kate Wolffe,
Sacbee.com,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
As the world around them scorches under record heat, a family walks into the woods, asking what the future holds in this thermal dystopia.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
14 Jan. 2026
-
That’s the difference between fury that scorches everything in sight and anger that fuels justice.—
Marc Brackett,
Time,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Then, Lim steams the breastmilk in an espresso machine before adding the matcha into the drink.—
Hannah Sacks,
PEOPLE,
15 Jan. 2026
-
Humidity often corrodes cables and steams camera lenses.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
In a statement issued Friday, the commission accused X of using its 'blue checkmark' in a way that deceives users.—
Mary Cunningham,
CBS News,
5 Dec. 2025
-
The fragmentary Ni 12501 tablet from the Early Dynastic III period of Mesopotamia breaks off when Fox deceives the inhabitants of the netherworld in his quest to retrieve the storm god Ishkur.—
Rafil Kroll-Zaidi,
Harpers Magazine,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The third might buy time but at the cost of leaving the market undersupplied with term credit, and with the fundamental fiscal problem still worsening as deficits compound and debt service consumes an ever-larger share of federal outlays.—
Daniel J. Arbess,
Fortune,
5 Feb. 2026
-
For starters, figure skating no longer consumes her life, freeing Liu to enjoy the stage more than ever.—
Elliott Almond,
Mercury News,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The property, which features lush greenery and old-growth trees set among babbling brooks and water features, is open to the public, and the gardens have served as a popular spot for weddings over the decades in addition to an annual Mother’s Day tea that Weston said attracts hundreds each year.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Many of these parcels have elements like oak woodlands, meadows, brooks and rivers that create cooler, wetter areas that help plants and animals endure wildfires or periods of extreme heat or drought.—
Beth Rose Middleton Manning,
The Conversation,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
This time, his Bride (Buckley) not only comes alive, but also ignites a cultural revolution as the outlaw lovers embark on a cross-country crime spree.—
Sydney Bucksbaum,
Entertainment Weekly,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Under California law, most of those payments, as well as the lawsuit settlements, are expected to be covered by a state wildfire fund that lawmakers created to shield the three biggest for-profit utilities from bankruptcy if their equipment ignites a catastrophic fire.—
Melody Petersen,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
He's set to speak about the economy as a political storm rages just four hours to the north over his administration’s immigration enforcement tactics.—
Brianne Pfannenstiel,
Des Moines Register,
27 Jan. 2026
-
To this day, the wave of violence rages on in Sinaloa and other states where the cartel has influence.—
Gonzalo Zegarra,
CNN Money,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Burns.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burns. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.
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