1
as in to glow
to be on fire especially brightly
all evening long we just sat there, contentedly watching the Yule log burn
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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 brook
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
Julissa James, Los Angeles Times, 13 Sep. 2023
Be sure to burn this candle on a heat-safe surface, and always trim the wick to ¼ or ½ inch before lighting for the best candle burning results.
—Sarah Wolf Halverson, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Sep. 2023
Emily Palmer Heller, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
Exposure to Cs-137 alone can cause burns, acute radiation sickness, cancer, and death.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for burn
Verb
Thick smoke of burning incense penetrates the room, perfuming everything sacred.
—Julissa James, Los Angeles Times, 13 Sep. 2023
Be sure to burn this candle on a heat-safe surface, and always trim the wick to ¼ or ½ inch before lighting for the best candle burning results.
—Sarah Wolf Halverson, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Sep. 2023
Noun
One of them was a slow-burn, atmospheric meditation on the Guatemalan genocide that now sits in the Criterion Collection.
—Emily Palmer Heller, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
Exposure to Cs-137 alone can cause burns, acute radiation sickness, cancer, and death.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for burn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burn
Verb
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For observers in Australia, Asia, Africa and parts of Europe, the rise of the full moon will be followed by its journey through Earth’s shadow in space, with its surface glowing reddish-orange for 82 minutes.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
-
Lillusory Scallop Cardigan in Navy, $18 with coupon The sweater is starting to receive five-star ratings and glowing reviews.—
Isabel Garcia,
PEOPLE,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The temperature on the field was scorching, yet Ryan started off cold.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Sep. 2025
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Historic data According to NIFC records for 2024, lightning ignited 305 fires in California, scorching 90,206 acres of wildland.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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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
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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
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Huse torched ham in his backyard for Cuban sandwiches and celebrated birthdays with epic cakes and flaming desserts.—
Gabrielle Calise,
Miami Herald,
3 Sep. 2025
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The games featured will be some of the most impactful of the series yet, including one set at a shrine at night with flaming arrows raining down.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Looks can be deceiving, Cali said.—
Bryan Washington,
New Yorker,
7 Sep. 2025
-
There is some relief on the way, but do not be deceived.—
Kirsten Fiscus,
Nashville Tennessean,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Smoke remains visible near Patterson Bluff and Dinkey Creek as fuels continue to consume in the fire perimeter.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
5 Sep. 2025
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Conversely, consuming healthy amounts of iron and vitamin D was associated with hair growth.—
Brian Mastroianni,
Health,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The original one, fed by a nearby brook, has been out of commission for decades, and two others, installed by the current owners, haven’t been used in several years.—
Kim Velsey,
Curbed,
27 Aug. 2025
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Connected blocks created a bridge across a brook and carried lightweight objects.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
20 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Back in November 2018, Patrick Mahomes has guided the Chiefs to victories in nine of their first 10 games, doing so in blazing fashion.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
8 Sep. 2025
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Lambert has the blazing speed of a top-six forward — like Nikolaj Ehlers, whose offseason departure creates a hole in Winnipeg’s top six — while Salomonsson dominated in his best AHL games last season.—
Murat Ates,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Burn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burn. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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