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
Saleen Martin, USA Today, 11 May 2026
Brian didn’t want to burn him out.
—Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2026
Chiara Eisner, NPR, 17 May 2026
One component of my role as a burn therapist is the focus on the range of motion of the skin and its ability to glide over joints to allow functional movement.
—Dr. Jaclyn M. Piselli, Hartford Courant, 16 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for burn
Verb
Thousands of structures burned, and thousands of people were displaced, prosecutors said.
—Saleen Martin, USA Today, 11 May 2026
Brian didn’t want to burn him out.
—Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2026
Noun
On April 14, the federal government outlined plans to boost pay by 25% for government firefighters who work on prescribed burns.
—Chiara Eisner, NPR, 17 May 2026
One component of my role as a burn therapist is the focus on the range of motion of the skin and its ability to glide over joints to allow functional movement.
—Dr. Jaclyn M. Piselli, Hartford Courant, 16 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for burn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burn
Verb
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Tabakis lightly strums and plucks over a glowing drone and chattering birds, offering an ecumenical introduction, a smiling welcome.—
Grayson Haver Currin,
Pitchfork,
14 May 2026
-
The area is tucked against the San Gabriel Mountains, which glow the color of warm terra cotta at sunset.—
Aarne Heikkila,
NBC news,
14 May 2026
Verb
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All that matters at this reservation-only pizzeria is the crust, a technical marvel of puff, bulge and scorch.—
Ligaya Mishan,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
-
Officials said the fire has scorched at least 5,000 acres as of Monday morning.—
Sergio Candido,
CBS News,
11 May 2026
Verb
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Yet over nearly two hours and three steaming mugs of tea, the spoiler-averse director is unexpectedly forthcoming.—
Eliana Dockterman,
Time,
12 May 2026
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Once the milk begins to steam, add in 24 large marshmallows.—
Sarah Martens,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 May 2026
Verb
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Subsequent throws easily carried the flaming spear upwards of 60 feet away.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
14 May 2026
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An infinity-edge pool stretches toward the horizon, while expansive Ipe wood decks, flamed granite terraces, and an outdoor kitchen frame sweeping bay views.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
11 May 2026
Verb
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The complaint also claims that the image deceives customers into thinking Lipa has endorsed the product and dilutes her brand identity.—
Mary Cunningham,
CBS News,
11 May 2026
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Berger also warned against attempts by Israelis to deceive foreign agents, stressing that any contact is a serious offense.—
Amelie Botbol,
FOXNews.com,
8 May 2026
Verb
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Could the chicken from which the thigh and breast meat came, have consumed, weeks earlier, a toxic amount of psychedelics?—
Weike Wang,
New Yorker,
17 May 2026
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Thankfully, cleaning a mattress isn't hard to do or very time consuming.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
16 May 2026
Noun
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There’s the area’s natural beauty, of course, inherent in the 12,000 acres of Georgia countryside—forests, rolling landscapes, creeks, and atmospheric ponds—that lie just 85 miles east of Atlanta on the state’s second largest lake.—
Robb Report Studio,
Robb Report,
16 May 2026
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For all of these creatures, the coast’s patchwork of barrier islands, beaches, sandbars, salt marshes, tidal creeks and estuaries are vitally important for survival.—
Charles Seabrook,
AJC.com,
16 May 2026
Verb
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Parking on the roof of the Universal Orlando garage in broad, blazing daylight, then passing two levels of empty, shaded parking slots.—
Dewayne Bevil,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 May 2026
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The singer-dancer-actress (born Freda Josephine McDonald) blazed trails as the first Black woman to star in a major motion picture, the 1927 French silent film Siren of the Tropics.—
Jack Smart,
PEOPLE,
12 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Burn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burn. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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