as in blisters
a small, inflamed swelling of the skin
the dermatologist lanced the infected boil that had formed on the patient's neck
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of boils
Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 17 May 2026
For traditional crawfish boils, deveining is generally skipped.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 8 May 2026
The soot becomes dust that covers humans and animals, producing festering boils.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 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
This year’s options span crawfish boils, fajitas, barbecue, desserts and more, with restaurants offering watch parties, dine-in service and takeout across the city.
—Ana Khan, Houston Chronicle, 2 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
Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2026
His weight fluctuated and boils broke out under his arms and along his neck, said Ramos, who frequently speaks with Castillo and Otero via phone.
—Rick Jervis, USA Today, 13 May 2026
Once the water boils, turn off the heat, move the pan off the burner, and let the eggs sit in the hot water for 10 minutes.
—Maddie Topliff, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Apr. 2026
As soon as water boils, turn off heat; cover saucepan, and let stand for 12 minutes.
—Jasmine Smith, Southern Living, 11 Apr. 2026
These boils impact the Egyptians and even Pharaoh’s magicians.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Mar. 2026
Northern Wisconsin roads break up in spring, when frost literally boils out of the ground.
—Dave Duffey, Outdoor Life, 26 Mar. 2026
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
Noun
Bonds are tested and betrayal boils.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 17 May 2026
For traditional crawfish boils, deveining is generally skipped.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 8 May 2026
The soot becomes dust that covers humans and animals, producing festering boils.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 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
This year’s options span crawfish boils, fajitas, barbecue, desserts and more, with restaurants offering watch parties, dine-in service and takeout across the city.
—Ana Khan, Houston Chronicle, 2 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
Verb
Also contaminated are fish, staples of Midwestern fish fries and fish boils, and an important part of the diet of Indigenous tribes, certain immigrant populations and communities of color.
—Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2026
His weight fluctuated and boils broke out under his arms and along his neck, said Ramos, who frequently speaks with Castillo and Otero via phone.
—Rick Jervis, USA Today, 13 May 2026
Once the water boils, turn off the heat, move the pan off the burner, and let the eggs sit in the hot water for 10 minutes.
—Maddie Topliff, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Apr. 2026
As soon as water boils, turn off heat; cover saucepan, and let stand for 12 minutes.
—Jasmine Smith, Southern Living, 11 Apr. 2026
These boils impact the Egyptians and even Pharaoh’s magicians.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Mar. 2026
Northern Wisconsin roads break up in spring, when frost literally boils out of the ground.
—Dave Duffey, Outdoor Life, 26 Mar. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for boils
Verb
-
During that time, the steak essentially steams.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
15 May 2026
-
This all comes as the legal fight over the audit steams ahead, over 15 months after 72% of the state signed off on the ballot measure.—
Lance Reynolds,
Boston Herald,
28 Mar. 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
-
Fashion month and awards season may have drawn to a close, but the global cultural calendar churns on.—
Mahoro Seward,
Vogue,
25 Mar. 2026
-
As the song churns on, the focus narrows in on West until everything else falls away.—
Jayson Greene,
Pitchfork,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In animals, the bacterium causes pustules and lesions, predominantly in cattle, sheep, and horses.—
Helen Branswell,
STAT,
11 May 2026
-
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
Verb
-
Some epic scenes were invented wholesale, like a tearful reunion between Louis and Lestat in their old New Orleans home as a hurricane rages around them.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
2 June 2026
-
Every Emmy season, a battle rages over which network or streamer earns the most nominations.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
The Differences Between Instant Pot and Slow Cooker A slow cooker is a countertop appliance that simmers ingredients in a pot at a low temperature for an extended period.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 May 2026
-
Chop up your favorite toppings while the chili simmers on the stove.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The galaxy's heart shines brightly in the image, with gleaming rays of light radiating from its center while gas and dust swirls around.—
Chelsea Gohd,
Space.com,
19 May 2026
-
Longoria’s approach to the wild fervour that continually swirls around the Velodrome was to try to harness it by hiring comparably combustible coaches like Jorge Sampaoli, Igor Tudor, Gennaro Gattuso and De Zerbi.—
Tom Williams,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
Well, in Traditional Chinese Medicine, pimples are related to internal imbalances of heat and blood stagnation.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
29 May 2026
-
Baker’s Stanford is a strong candidate, and his book follows in the tradition of Michael Lewis’s Wall Street chronicle Liar’s Poker, but with more pimples and less eye contact.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Boils.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/boils. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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