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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Allison Forsyth, Health, 20 Apr. 2026
With the closure of the trash-burning facility in Hartford and ongoing discussions about the state’s long-term options, initiatives like MRC’s Bye Bye Mattress provide a practical, environmentally sound solution.
—Dan McGowan, Hartford Courant, 20 Apr. 2026
Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 17 Apr. 2026
The son was seriously injured, suffering first-degree burns to his face and second and third-degree burns to both of his hands.
—Mike Darnay, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for burn
Verb
Too much sun—especially enough to tan or burn—can damage your skin and increase the risk of premature aging and skin cancer.
—Allison Forsyth, Health, 20 Apr. 2026
With the closure of the trash-burning facility in Hartford and ongoing discussions about the state’s long-term options, initiatives like MRC’s Bye Bye Mattress provide a practical, environmentally sound solution.
—Dan McGowan, Hartford Courant, 20 Apr. 2026
Noun
LeVasseur was rescued from the wreckage with severe burns and life-threatening injuries and was treated at Hartford Hospital for six months.
—Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 17 Apr. 2026
The son was seriously injured, suffering first-degree burns to his face and second and third-degree burns to both of his hands.
—Mike Darnay, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for burn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burn
Verb
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What's left behind is a glowing core, known as a white dwarf, which is sending out radiation that causes the gas shells to glow.—
Elizabeth Howell,
Space.com,
23 Apr. 2026
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Her clothes, patterned in vivid reds, pinks and oranges, echo the mineral-rich sands of Iran’s Qeshm and Hormuz islands, where the earth itself seems to glow.—
Adam Pourahmadi,
CNN Money,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Lakers were connected, apparently having had time to adjust to the loss of their two leading scorers, LeBron James acting as a brilliant playmaker for scorching hot shooters like Kennard, who hit all five of his treys in scoring a career playoff-high 27 points.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Apr. 2026
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After Freddie Freeman scorched a two-out triple to left-center, Karros robbed Hernandez of extra bases with a diving stop and a perfect throw to first for the out.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Sometimes the reception to my style was not ideal, especially when judges would clock my handmade or altered garments as cheap or not properly steamed.—
Gabe Montesanti,
PEOPLE,
19 Apr. 2026
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Operators of cruise ships, which guzzle fuel, also steamed higher.—
Stan Choe,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Alvarez awoke Sunday leading the majors in slugging, OPS and home runs, a flaming core at the heart of a cooling lineup.—
Matt Kawahara,
Houston Chronicle,
19 Apr. 2026
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At Zara Forest, a Turkish restaurant in Staten Island, special occasions are marked by massive flaming meat plates presented with a flourish in the dark by the whole staff singing.—
The Editors,
Curbed,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Swalwell apparently did an excellent job deceiving those around him, including some congressional and campaign staffers who’d known him for years and worked closely with the seven-term lawmaker, day in, day out.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Apr. 2026
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The Mets have a responsibility to protect their players by not throwing them under the bus, but there are ways to do that without trying to convince people that their eyes are deceiving them.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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That’s why David Gallo’s setting, a vista of a fragile boarding house nearly consumed by the rising, sun-blotting, industrial landscape of Pittsburgh, works so effectively here.—
Chris Jones,
New York Daily News,
26 Apr. 2026
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Investigators suspect one Georgia fire was sparked when an aluminum party balloon touched live power lines; that blaze has consumed 50 square miles, twice Manhattan’s size.—
Emilie Megnien,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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On the other side of the barrier island, maze-like salt marshes and winding tidal creeks funnel into the Intracoastal Waterway, providing the ideal environment to see bottlenose dolphins, loggerhead sea turtles, and abundant shorebirds.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
17 Apr. 2026
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Divers pulled a man from the water after a car was found submerged in a creek in Morris, Illinois, southwest of Chicago late Saturday.—
Asal Rezaei,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The chemistry of the ensemble, the great strength of Mayer’s revival, beautifully balances blazing showmanship with character-rich detail.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
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Reshuffling the order in which minerals emerged would create new opportunities for water’s constituent oxygen and hydrogen to combine, more readily forming hydrated minerals that, unlike ice, can endure close proximity to the blazing sun.—
Javier Barbuzano,
Scientific American,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Burn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burn. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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