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 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
Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2025
Its exterior is finished in wood which has been treated using the traditional Japanese shou sugi ban method of burning the wood to protect and preserve it against insects and weather, lending it a distinctive charred appearance.
—New Atlas, 19 Oct. 2025
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
United this year scooped up a partnership with JetBlue that allows customers to earn and burn miles on each others airline, but stops short of coordinating schedules or routes.
—Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2025
Its exterior is finished in wood which has been treated using the traditional Japanese shou sugi ban method of burning the wood to protect and preserve it against insects and weather, lending it a distinctive charred appearance.
—New Atlas, 19 Oct. 2025
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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Direct light can scorch the leaves.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
23 Oct. 2025
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Le Creuset Stoneware Heritage Rectangular Dish This baking dish is crafted from durable stone that maintains even temperatures and prevents scorching.—
Emily Weaver,
PEOPLE,
22 Oct. 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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Meanwhile, the movie's kinetic animation and Ichabod's rubbery physicality playfully contrast with the truly frightening Horseman and his flaming pumpkin.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Oct. 2025
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Spotify also shared a graphic of the same design on Instagram, captioning it simply with a key emoji and flaming heart.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Despite being deceived, Stone, who dated Garfield for four years, conceded that the actor's dedication to the secret was honorable.—
Mekishana Pierre,
Entertainment Weekly,
20 Oct. 2025
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That’s 14 years of dreaming, dissolving, romanticizing, escaping, and sometimes deceiving ourselves.—
Dossé-Via Trenou,
Refinery29,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
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However, customers are advised not to consume the products, per USA Today.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
24 Oct. 2025
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Conventional cleanup techniques often worsen the problem by disturbing soil structures and consuming large amounts of energy.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Michelle turned back, but the other two children went walking along a trail near what is now I-395 and came across a brook.—
Grace Zokovitch,
Boston Herald,
1 Oct. 2025
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The property, which features lush greenery and old-growth trees set among babbling brooks and water features, is open to the public, and the gardens have served as a popular spot for weddings over the decades in addition to an annual Mother’s Day tea that Weston said attracts hundreds each year.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Doug Barron of Memphis came out blazing in the morning, making birdie on his first four holes until a bogey at the par-3 5th derailed him.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
25 Oct. 2025
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San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama has gotten off to a blazing start to his 2025-26 season, and is the key reason why the Spurs have gotten off to their first 2-0 start since 2020-21.—
acoloma,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Burn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burn. Accessed 27 Oct. 2025.
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