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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Several structural pressures are converging to make this a uniquely combustible moment, one in which both the music industry and AI companies may see a narrow window to shape the future before external forces lock it in for them.—
Virginie Berger,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
-
In a release sent Monday by the City of Gladstone, preliminary findings suggest the explosion may have involved combustible materials stored at the home.—
Noelle Alviz-Gransee,
Kansas City Star,
3 June 2025
Noun
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It is situated along a creek just off California State Route 2 in Angeles National Forest.—
Jaclyn Cosgrove,
Los Angeles Times,
5 June 2025
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While traversing steep mountain trails and navigating undulating bent grass greens at Cliffhangers, golfers will drive carts through cascading waterfalls, cross swift flowing creeks, and wind through a cave system.—
Erik Matuszewski,
Forbes.com,
5 June 2025
Adjective
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Watkins got a nice plug from Purdy, who said he’s made several explosive plays this spring.—
Matt Barrows,
New York Times,
5 June 2025
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Ammonium nitrate is an explosive precursor that can be used to make homemade bombs, Essayli said.—
Nicquel Terry Ellis,
CNN Money,
4 June 2025
Noun
-
The soft opening attracted a steady stream of new and longstanding fans.—
Emiene Wright,
Charlotte Observer,
6 June 2025
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New episodes of Love Island USA stream daily at 9 p.m. E.T. on Peacock.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
6 June 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 12 Jun. 2025.
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