1
as in glows
to be on fire especially brightly
all evening long we just sat there, contentedly watching the Yule log burn
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in scorches
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 steams
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 flames
to shine with a bright harsh light
the bright streetlight outside our motel room burned all night long
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in deceives
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 consumes
to make complete use of
heedlessly burning the country's resources without any concern for future generations
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in brooks
a natural body of running water smaller than a river
the walkers forded the shallow burn and then came upon a field of gorse
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of burns
Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 9 Mar. 2026
The white phosphorus then ignites and burns intensely, destroying the agents by incinerating them – a method meant to reduce the risk of spreading the materials and to limit potential harm to civilians and the surrounding environment.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 8 Mar. 2026
The Mississippi plant now exclusively burns natural gas.
—Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2026
But, mom, though we are surrounded by so much darkness and uncertainty, our love burns bright.
—Sumiko Corley, NBC news, 3 Mar. 2026
But Mom, though we are surrounded by so much darkness and uncertainty, our love burns bright.
—Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 2 Mar. 2026
But her desire to compete at a high level still burns deep.
—Cedric Golden, Austin American Statesman, 1 Mar. 2026
Yet within these modest walls burns a fierce desire to learn.
—Joyeeta Banerjee, NPR, 1 Mar. 2026
But the oil market is not as fragile as the headlines suggest, and OPEC+ is not standing by while the world burns.
—Wael Mahdi, semafor.com, 1 Mar. 2026
Aaron Parseghian, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2026
Officers then began taking apart the tank, which was not factory standard, and discovered the woman lying in a puddle of gasoline, appearing disoriented and suffering from apparent chemical burns to her legs and feet; she was taken to a hospital for medical evaluation, treated and quickly released.
—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Mar. 2026
One trend involved microwaving a toy that burst and left severe burns on a 9-year-old's face.
—Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 7 Mar. 2026
John and the protagonist aren't so lucky in the book; both of them are left with significant third-degree burns following the fire.
—Tiffany Kelly, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Mar. 2026
Even Simon was injured with shrapnel damage and burns on his back and face.
—Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 27 Feb. 2026
Other causes included multiple injuries, gunshot wounds, suffocation, burns and shaking.
—Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2026
Avoid short, smoky burns, which can create heavier deposits.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 27 Feb. 2026
The outlet said his wife also suffered severe burns while trying to save Brown.
—Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 27 Feb. 2026
Verb
If Sunday was any indication, the love affair between Avs fans and Kadri burns as hot as ever.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 9 Mar. 2026
The white phosphorus then ignites and burns intensely, destroying the agents by incinerating them – a method meant to reduce the risk of spreading the materials and to limit potential harm to civilians and the surrounding environment.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 8 Mar. 2026
The Mississippi plant now exclusively burns natural gas.
—Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2026
But, mom, though we are surrounded by so much darkness and uncertainty, our love burns bright.
—Sumiko Corley, NBC news, 3 Mar. 2026
But Mom, though we are surrounded by so much darkness and uncertainty, our love burns bright.
—Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 2 Mar. 2026
But her desire to compete at a high level still burns deep.
—Cedric Golden, Austin American Statesman, 1 Mar. 2026
Yet within these modest walls burns a fierce desire to learn.
—Joyeeta Banerjee, NPR, 1 Mar. 2026
But the oil market is not as fragile as the headlines suggest, and OPEC+ is not standing by while the world burns.
—Wael Mahdi, semafor.com, 1 Mar. 2026
Noun
Mother and daughter hurt by Taunton blast Twenty-five-year-old mother Lucitha Blanc and her 2-year-old daughter were inside and seriously injured with what police called life-threatening burns.
—Aaron Parseghian, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2026
Officers then began taking apart the tank, which was not factory standard, and discovered the woman lying in a puddle of gasoline, appearing disoriented and suffering from apparent chemical burns to her legs and feet; she was taken to a hospital for medical evaluation, treated and quickly released.
—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Mar. 2026
One trend involved microwaving a toy that burst and left severe burns on a 9-year-old's face.
—Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 7 Mar. 2026
John and the protagonist aren't so lucky in the book; both of them are left with significant third-degree burns following the fire.
—Tiffany Kelly, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Mar. 2026
Even Simon was injured with shrapnel damage and burns on his back and face.
—Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 27 Feb. 2026
Other causes included multiple injuries, gunshot wounds, suffocation, burns and shaking.
—Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2026
Avoid short, smoky burns, which can create heavier deposits.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 27 Feb. 2026
The outlet said his wife also suffered severe burns while trying to save Brown.
—Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 27 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burns
Verb
-
Soft light glows over a dining room that seats roughly 40.—
Stephanie Breijo,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Green fluorescent protein, first isolated from a jellyfish, glows bright green when under a blue light.—
Marc Zimmer,
The Conversation,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
As the world around them scorches under record heat, a family walks into the woods, asking what the future holds in this thermal dystopia.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
14 Jan. 2026
-
That’s the difference between fury that scorches everything in sight and anger that fuels justice.—
Marc Brackett,
Time,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Nothing steams football fans quite like NBC Sports broadcaster Cris Collinsworth praising Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Then, Lim steams the breastmilk in an espresso machine before adding the matcha into the drink.—
Hannah Sacks,
PEOPLE,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In a statement issued Friday, the commission accused X of using its 'blue checkmark' in a way that deceives users.—
Mary Cunningham,
CBS News,
5 Dec. 2025
-
The fragmentary Ni 12501 tablet from the Early Dynastic III period of Mesopotamia breaks off when Fox deceives the inhabitants of the netherworld in his quest to retrieve the storm god Ishkur.—
Rafil Kroll-Zaidi,
Harpers Magazine,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The way a market consumes goods matters, too.—
Mark Dee
March 3,
Idaho Statesman,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Each Iranian attack consumes more expensive air defense interceptors, demand for which has spiked worldwide thanks in part to Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine, of which Moscow's nightly drone and missile attacks are a key element.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
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
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Many of these parcels have elements like oak woodlands, meadows, brooks and rivers that create cooler, wetter areas that help plants and animals endure wildfires or periods of extreme heat or drought.—
Beth Rose Middleton Manning,
The Conversation,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
But like the spark that ignites a giant bonfire, that battle was the beginning of something new.—
Sayantani DasGupta
February 24,
Literary Hub,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Please avoid any activities that may cause a spark or a flame; any flame that ignites has the potential of spreading rapidly.—
Michael Autovino,
CBS News,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
As labor complications ensue, a blizzard rages outside trapping the family in their home – sitting ducks for whatever sinister presence might be in there with them.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Her video comes as her grandfather dismissed concerns about rising oil and gas prices as the war in Iran rages on.—
James Powel,
USA Today,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Burns.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burns. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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