boils 1 of 2

Definition of boilsnext
plural of boil
as in blisters
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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boils

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of boil
1
as in steams
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 stews
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 churns
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 boils
Noun
Don’t be tempted to take an earlier exit, even though signs along I-10 will boast the finest boils in the state. Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 14 Mar. 2026 But it's very commonly associated with like seafood boils. Emily Elias, Bon Appetit Magazine, 4 Mar. 2026 Last year, the restaurant changed concepts to Amelies — named after Wang’s wife — continuing to offer seafood boils in tandem with new dishes. Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 26 Feb. 2026 The party was complete with seafood boils, a brass band, and a photo booth. Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 27 Jan. 2026 The list of occasions can go on and on, ranging from universal (football and concerts) to local (ice fishing in northern Minnesota and crawfish boils in Baton Rouge). Rahul Goyal, Fortune, 12 Jan. 2026 Dining at the luxury resort includes 10 on-site options ranging from COAST’s fine dining to lobster boils, casual beach fare and champagne bars. Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 6 Dec. 2025 Baker inquires about the design of the hunchback and hovers his hand above her bulbous boils. J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 26 Sep. 2025 Those include fish boils, something usually associated with Wisconsin’s Door County. Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2025
Verb
The southern gothic The Heart, She Holler takes the convoluted elements of a soap opera — torrid affairs, small-town corruption, arbitrary plot twists — and boils them down alongside a heavy dose of gross-out surrealism to fit into 11-minute installments. Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2026 Bobbi boils with resentment and shame when Recife’s crooked police chief undermines his masculinity. Michael Snyder, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2026 Charleston has also earned a national reputation for its cuisine, with restaurants, such as Hyman’s Seafood and Magnolias, serving classic dishes like shrimp-n-grits, red rice, and Lowcountry boils. Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 12 Mar. 2026 Other seafood boils range from $20 to $50. Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Feb. 2026 Here are some parties, crawfish boils, king cake locations, and more for the holiday. Ray Padilla, Louisville Courier Journal, 17 Feb. 2026 As the water boils and the microwave interior gets steamy, your kitchen will fill with the soothing smell. Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 10 Feb. 2026 Its carbon steel boils water quickly, while retaining heat. Isabel Garcia, PEOPLE, 10 Jan. 2026 Keep in mind that a covered pot boils faster than an uncovered one. Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 8 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for boils
Verb
  • Nothing steams football fans quite like NBC Sports broadcaster Cris Collinsworth praising Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
    Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 6 Feb. 2026
  • Then, Lim steams the breastmilk in an espresso machine before adding the matcha into the drink.
    Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 15 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Other cast members include sous chef Alesia Harris, who returned from Season 3, stews Jenna Woudberg and Joe Caron, deckhands Eddy Hounsell and Betul Yazici, and deck/stew Mike Durrant.
    Jason Pham, StyleCaster, 2 Feb. 2026
  • Droves of Amazon shoppers are also going after this Crock-Pot lunchbox that makes reheating winter soups and stews a breeze at work, as well as this Lego poinsettia that serves as a fun, interactive gift and transforms into decor once it’s built.
    Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 20 Dec. 2025
Verb
  • As the song churns on, the focus narrows in on West until everything else falls away.
    Jayson Greene, Pitchfork, 3 Mar. 2026
  • Their immense gravitational influence churns gas, dust, and even proximate stars around them, thus exerting a tremendous influence on their host galaxies.
    Robert Lea, Space.com, 20 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • In fact, one of the most common triggers of rosacea, which is characterized by flushing, swelling, spider veins, papules, and pustules, is exposure to sunlight.
    Sherri Gordon, Health, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Research suggests that pimple patches aren't effective on cystic acne, pustules, or blackheads.
    Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Anand arrived in Turkey for consultations on the situation in the region as the war rages on.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 19 Mar. 2026
  • Iranians describe their fears and hopes as the war rages around them.
    Sarah Baniak, ABC News, 15 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • There’s a time and a place for a laborious chili recipe with upwards of 30 ingredients that simmers all day long.
    Josh Miller, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2026
  • Black lives don’t matter in Warwick Thornton’s fiercely original outback Western Wolfram, a surprisingly emotional genre piece that simmers with menace and doesn’t let up until the bloody finale.
    Damon Wise, Deadline, 17 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • To load the product onto the brush, Barnes swirls the tool into the pan twice and taps it twice to prevent fallout.
    Jenny Berg, Vogue, 12 Dec. 2025
  • The lights are dim and jazzy music swirls the intimate crowd.
    Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 10 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • This year, Select editors got ahead of any surprise pimples by investigating the difference between skin purging and breakouts, researching the best over-the-counter topicals for teen acne, and asking dermatologists the best blackhead treatments for acne-prone skin.
    David Hickey, NBC news, 17 Mar. 2026
  • Spot treatments for pimples are one of the best ways to target breakouts.
    Jessie Quinn, StyleCaster, 20 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Boils.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/boils. Accessed 26 Mar. 2026.

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