1
as in blazing
being on fire
a firefighter must be that rare soul who rushes into a burning house, not away from it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in boiling
having a notably high temperature
a burning sauna seems like a welcome retreat after a day of shoveling snow
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in warm
having or expressing great depth of feeling
the burning enthusiasm of that candidate's campaign workers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in urgent
needing immediate attention
once again the media ignored the burning issues and focused on fluff
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in glowing
to be on fire especially brightly
all evening long we just sat there, contentedly watching the Yule log burn
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in scorching
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 steaming
to be excited or emotionally stirred up with anger
he came home burning with anger because of a reprimand at work
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in flaring
to shine with a bright harsh light
the bright streetlight outside our motel room burned all night long
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in tricking
to cause to believe what is untrue
he's been burned before, so he's careful to double-check such claims now
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in consuming
to make complete use of
heedlessly burning the country's resources without any concern for future generations
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of burning
Angela Haupt, Time, 23 Dec. 2025
Paper Trail • My most burning question, right now, is: Who is Wigwam in all of this?!
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 29 Oct. 2025
Elyssa Kaufman, CBS News, 16 June 2026
The instruments are on conspicuous display in the respective sitting rooms, each placed atop a shrine of its own, often with an incense stick burning under it.
—Literary Hub, 16 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for burning
Adjective
Holiday gatherings are like catnip for friends and family members who only see each other once a year and certainly aren’t going to squander the chance to satisfy their most burning questions.
—Angela Haupt, Time, 23 Dec. 2025
Paper Trail • My most burning question, right now, is: Who is Wigwam in all of this?!
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 29 Oct. 2025
Verb
Police said the cross was found burning on Columbus Drive north of Balbo Drive in Grant Park on Tuesday afternoon.
—Elyssa Kaufman, CBS News, 16 June 2026
The instruments are on conspicuous display in the respective sitting rooms, each placed atop a shrine of its own, often with an incense stick burning under it.
—Literary Hub, 16 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for burning
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burning
Adjective
-
In the middle of the blazing mid-afternoon heat, two other shows dazzled convention attendees who were grabbing a bite to eat or shopping at vendor pop-up tents outside.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
14 June 2026
-
Plants must endure and thrive through soft morning light and blazing summer afternoons, through shade one moment and full sun the next.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
4 May 2026
Adjective
-
More humane methods of killing lobsters pre-boiling include a sharp knife through the head, electrical stunning, or freezing.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
29 Dec. 2025
-
Agrawal and her team studied ionic liquids — salts that are liquid at sub-boiling temperatures (below 212 degrees Fahrenheit, or 100 degrees Celsius) — as a potential hospitable environment for life.—
Stefanie Waldek,
Space.com,
13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Two rescues within the past week in San Miguel County are a reminder about preparation in Colorado's mountains as the arrival of warm weather means more people in the mountains.—
Alan Gionet,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
-
The service The service is maybe a touch more reverential than other Four Seasons outposts, but interactions are warm and friendly.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 June 2026
Adjective
-
The cultural conversation happening here is nuanced and urgent and almost entirely invisible to the average visitor.—
Baz Dreisinger,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2026
-
The result is documentary filmmaking at its most urgent and compassionate.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
21 June 2026
Verb
-
Cellphone footage shows two glowing red orbs floating across the sky.—
Collin Binkley,
Fortune,
15 June 2026
-
Speaking about the division race during the teams series this week, New York Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns offered a glowing assessment of the rival club that has become one of the National League’s toughest opponents.—
Peter Chawaga,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
France put emergency services and military forces on wildfire alert, restricted public alcohol consumption and canceled some outdoor sports events to cope with a heat wave scorching parts of Europe.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
21 June 2026
-
Backed by just a DJ (Dazedgxd, who opened the set) and a retina-scorching light rig up front, Jane acknowledged on Thursday that the stakes were getting much higher.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
Verb
-
Primitive manmade paths have been carved among the hills, which are dotted with steaming vents, small rivers, and glacial ice.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 June 2026
-
When in doubt, stick to food that is cooked and served steaming hot.—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
Tensions have a habit of flaring up in the region, and Iran has responded by threatening to attack ships attempting to transit the strait.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
15 June 2026
-
The flames could be seen flaring toward the roof and sparks falling on the ground.—
Noe Padilla,
USA Today,
12 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Burning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burning. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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