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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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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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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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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as in to annoy
to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts
seeing people violate smoking bans really burns me up
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as in combustible
capable of catching or being set on fire
don't put something so burnable as a towel next to the stove
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burn one's ears
5 of 5phrase
as in reprimand
to criticize (someone) so as to correct a fault
She burned his ears for not wearing a seatbelt.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of burn
Courtland Milloy, Washington Post, 12 Sep. 2023
William Lucas, 8, survived after Tonya Lucas’ boyfriend at the time rescued him from the burning home.
—Alex Mann, Baltimore Sun, 12 Sep. 2023
Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 May 2025
Not bad for a company that only just did its first underground burn outside of a laboratory this January.
—New Atlas, 29 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for burn
Verb
Such interactions can light a fuse that may burn throughout a school year, only to erupt when students arrive for a new semester driving their parents’ car.
—Courtland Milloy, Washington Post, 12 Sep. 2023
William Lucas, 8, survived after Tonya Lucas’ boyfriend at the time rescued him from the burning home.
—Alex Mann, Baltimore Sun, 12 Sep. 2023
Noun
Alongside Williams, Sanders saw a healthy amount of burn with the first-team unit today.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 May 2025
Not bad for a company that only just did its first underground burn outside of a laboratory this January.
—New Atlas, 29 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for burn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burn
Noun
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Adept anglers can fly-fish for them across the varied terrain of the property’s creeks or patrol the marshy perimeters its six Class A lakes for the coveted catch, as well as fellow trout—namely rainbow, brown, and brook–that often exceed 20 inches.—
Alexandra Kirkman,
Robb Report,
29 May 2025
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The quick video opened with footage of a rushing river and rolled to show a closeup of flowering branches, blue bells and an aerial view of a brook.—
Janine Henni,
People.com,
1 May 2025
Adjective
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The earlier case remained unsolved, but the parallels between the shootings are stark, echoing a combustible chapter in Israeli-Palestinian relations in which violence flared around the globe.—
Adam Goldman,
New York Times,
22 May 2025
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What new adventures could bring out—and deepen—her combustible mix of vulnerability and ferocity?—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
21 May 2025
Noun
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He’s arrowed fish in freshwater, tidewater creeks, and in the saltwater near the massive Chesapeake Bay Bridge.—
Bob McNally,
Outdoor Life,
1 May 2025
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The Spa The Spa is a collection of treatment tents set along a creek that lends a soundtrack to your massage, facial, or body wrap.—
Maya Kachroo-Levine,
Travel + Leisure,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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By the time a trend becomes obvious and investment products are widely available, much of the initial explosive growth has often already occurred.—
Gianluca Sidoti,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2025
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Officials with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms conducted a search at Ross’ home in Oklahoma and seized materials that were used to build the explosive devices, police said.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
23 May 2025
Noun
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One fund is quietly positioning itself to capitalize on this setup right now—and paying a rare 14% income stream while flying under most investors’ radar: the Nuveen Core Plus Impact Fund (NPCT), a holding of my CEF Insider service.—
Michael Foster,
Forbes.com,
25 May 2025
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The game will be broadcast on TNT and truTV while available via stream on Max.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
25 May 2025
Adjective
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The brushy habitat surrounding the golf course includes non-native eucalyptus trees, which are known for being highly flammable.—
Barbara Henry,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 May 2025
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Fire officials said the trend is even more concerning when students try it at home, where there may be younger siblings, flammable materials and limited adult supervision, increasing the risk of injury and home fires.—
Lauren Penington,
Denver Post,
26 May 2025
Adjective
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And all this against an inflammable backdrop of geopolitical crises including but not limited to the Israel-Hamas war and Russia's invasion of Ukraine.—
John Leicester,
Quartz,
15 Apr. 2024
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Heat also stresses old electrical systems — insulation breaks down; lubricants in relays dry out — and a not-insignificant amount of the subway’s electrical wiring dates to the 1920s and 1930s, some of it cloth-covered, inflammable, and pervious to water.—
Curbed,
Curbed,
28 July 2023
Cite this Entry
“Burn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burn. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
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