1
as in to glow
to be on fire especially brightly
all evening long we just sat there, contentedly watching the Yule log burn
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2
as in to scorch
to set (something) on fire
it is not a good idea to try to burn old papers in the sink
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to steam
to be excited or emotionally stirred up with anger
he came home burning with anger because of a reprimand at work
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4
as in to flame
to shine with a bright harsh light
the bright streetlight outside our motel room burned all night long
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5
as in to deceive
to cause to believe what is untrue
he's been burned before, so he's careful to double-check such claims now
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in to consume
to make complete use of
heedlessly burning the country's resources without any concern for future generations
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in creek
a natural body of running water smaller than a river
the walkers forded the shallow burn and then came upon a field of gorse
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of burn
Carole Horst, Variety, 13 Sep. 2023
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation promotes circular fashion and says that, in the United States, an amount of clothing equal to a garbage truck is ferried to landfills or burned every second.
—Neeti Mehra, Treehugger, 13 Sep. 2023
Duante Beddingfield, Freep.com, 24 Oct. 2025
The family said the brothers put their hazard lights on and called 911, reporting no injuries at the time besides slight burns from the airbags.
—Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for burn
Verb
The pair, who met as college undergrads, both burned with idealism and recognized their privilege could be leveraged for a game-changing idea.
—Carole Horst, Variety, 13 Sep. 2023
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation promotes circular fashion and says that, in the United States, an amount of clothing equal to a garbage truck is ferried to landfills or burned every second.
—Neeti Mehra, Treehugger, 13 Sep. 2023
Noun
Norma is contrasted by her narcissistic, foulmouthed, crash-and-burn sister, Wanda, who has chosen Norma’s house as a rendezvous point with an old boyfriend … against Norma’s wishes, and for very underhanded reasons.
—Duante Beddingfield, Freep.com, 24 Oct. 2025
The family said the brothers put their hazard lights on and called 911, reporting no injuries at the time besides slight burns from the airbags.
—Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for burn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burn
Verb
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Shaped like glowing maple leaves, the six-piece set brings all the cozy fall vibes while brightening up driveways, walkways, and garden paths.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 Oct. 2025
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The Emerald Cave glows bright green when sunlight hits the water just right.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The fire had engulfed McCarty, scorching 73% of his body, leaving him with scars that would last an entire lifetime to come.—
Zoey Lyttle,
PEOPLE,
6 Nov. 2025
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Without the trees, Smith said, the street is a beacon for scorching heat.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Ferrara’s arrival in New York City and subsequent entry into the movie business is presented as something like a case of recidivism, a dive from suburban gentility into the cauldron of steaming garbage that was Fun City–era Manhattan.—
Nick Pinkerton,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
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The clip then smash-cuts to a scene of Bruce as a child listening to his parents fight in the next room, and we’re meant to understand that the joy and power that steams off of the stage is a cure for the pain of childhood wounds.—
Sadie Sartini Garner,
Pitchfork,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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This 32-foot-tall sculpture with flaming red eyes has alarmed travelers for decades, but the story of its creation is even more chilling.—
Maureen O'Hare,
CNN Money,
25 Oct. 2025
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With a bright pattern set on flaming crimson and a diaphanous petticoat underneath, the dress fits her perfectly.—
David Wingrave,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Gordon warned me that this was deceiving.—
Ava Kofman,
New Yorker,
3 Nov. 2025
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Santos was sentenced to prison in April after admitting last year to deceiving donors and stealing the identities of 11 people — including his own family members — to make donations to his campaign.—
David Mark,
The Washington Examiner,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Nutrient-rich agricultural runoff and sewage cause huge algal blooms, and when these algae die and sink, bacteria bloom in turn, consuming so much oxygen that few other organisms survive at lower depths.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
31 Oct. 2025
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While newborns may only consume around 8-16 ounces of formula per day on average, that amount bumps to an average of 24-40 ounces a day by 6 months of age.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The 40 minute round-trip rolls up the Red Clay Valley, with unobstructed views of moonlit fields, rocky cuts and creek banks.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
31 Oct. 2025
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Instead, show him how to hunt small rivers and creeks, which require minimal gear.—
The Editors,
Outdoor Life,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Dudinha opened the scoring for San Diego, dribbling through the Current defense before blazing a shot through the legs of her Brazilian compatriot, Lorena.—
Daniel Sperry,
Kansas City Star,
2 Nov. 2025
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Kibbutz Be’eri resident and triathlete Meydan was saved while out biking on October 7 by Bedouin worker Hisham Alkarnawi as Hamas fighters closed in, guns blazing.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
30 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Burn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burn. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
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