boil 1 of 2

as in blister
a small, inflamed swelling of the skin the dermatologist lanced the infected boil that had formed on the patient's neck

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boil

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to steam
to be excited or emotionally stirred up with anger the passengers were boiling when they found out the flight was delayed yet again

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2
as in to stew
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

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3
as in to churn
to be in a state of violent rolling motion the sea boiled and frothed during the storm

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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 boil
Noun
But then Eala, who won the junior title here three years ago, started nailing her ground strokes and Tauson went off the boil. Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2025 This dish has all the classic flavors of shrimp scampi—bright wine, rich butter, and savory garlic—but the shrimp boil spin takes it to the next level. Elizabeth Mervosh, Southern Living, 22 Aug. 2025
Verb
French confectioner Nicolas Appert spent years on the challenge, eventually creating the world’s first food bottling factory by sealing food in glass jars with cork and wax, then boiling them. Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 28 Aug. 2025 First, boil a large pot of water on the stove—the pot should be big enough to fill the sink with water. Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 27 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for boil
Recent Examples of Synonyms for boil
Noun
  • Apply anti-itch cream like calamine lotion or hydrocortisone for open blisters.
    Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 23 Aug. 2025
  • The Yankees have been adamant that Fried’s blister has nothing to do with his struggles.
    Chris Kirschner, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • His observant approach to capturing the sights and sounds of New York’s Chinatown and Lower East Side — the streets packed with extras, the kitchens where Aishe works steaming and bustling — displays what can only be a documentarian’s attention to local detail and color.
    Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Basically, the creator, who shares content on the platform using the handle @mothercould, takes a cup filled with hot water and a paper towel, and places her child's ear over the opening of the cup, steaming the ear.
    Melissa Willets, Parents, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • 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
  • The two meats were stewed, roasted, grilled and breaded.
    Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Still, the world keeps churning.
    Keith Sharon, The Tennessean, 29 Aug. 2025
  • That hasn't stopped the NBA rumor mill from churning, though.
    Bryan Toporek, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Folliculitis refers to the bacterial or fungal infection of the hair follicle that can lead to redness or pustules centered around the hair follicle.
    Audrey Noble, Vogue, 1 July 2025
  • Their venom, similar to a bee’s or wasp’s, results in a painful, itchy pustule or blister on the skin.
    Gareth McGrath, USA Today, 28 June 2025
Verb
  • The research is even more interesting because of how different this region of the Milky Way is from the galactic plane, where supernovas usually rage.
    Robert Lea, Space.com, 2 Sep. 2025
  • Fleeing the raging war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in North Darfur state, residents sought shelter in the Marra Mountains area where food and medication are insufficient.
    Reuters, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • What the foreign minister’s role in the process would be was unclear, but the government of President Lee Jae Myung was trying to quickly contain simmering discontent in the country about how its nationals were being treated by US law enforcement.
    Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2025
  • And in workplaces across the country, stress continues to simmer under cultures that prize constant availability.
    Jennifer Jay Palumbo, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Miami Dolphins star receiver Tyreek Hill is already being swirled around in trade rumors.
    Drew VonScio, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Studs, leopard print, and DIY ornamentation sit alongside soft pastels, swirling graphic patterns, and a Nouveau color palette inspired by the Parisian Metropolitain signs.
    Felicity Carter, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Boil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/boil. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

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