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
Alcina Johnson Sudagar, The Conversation, 12 Feb. 2026
Stationary biking typically burns more calories in a shorter period of time and is easier on the joints.
—Rikkilynn Shields Hannigan, Health, 10 Feb. 2026
Production is entirely dependent on electricity and the generator burns about 700 hryvnias ($16) worth of fuel per hour.
—Kamila Hrabchuk, Fortune, 8 Feb. 2026
The sky has deepened to a clear blue, though the famously slow sunset still burns orange on the horizon.
—Rick Jordan, Travel + Leisure, 8 Feb. 2026
Musk’s move can be seen as a way to salvage xAI, which burns $1 billion a month, the FT’s tech team reports.
—Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 4 Feb. 2026
In immediate succession, Alesia burns her hands on a bunch of hot plates.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 3 Feb. 2026
Your body burns additional calories in the cold from shivering.
—Kaelyn Lynch, Outside, 23 Jan. 2026
But if Broncos head coach Sean Payton, a future Hall of Famer and offensive whiz, burns that blitz early, Maye and the offense must patch a few holes the Texans exploited in order to play catch-up.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 20 Jan. 2026
Natasha Korecki, NBC news, 14 Feb. 2026
Without the burns, understories grew in, creating perfect tick habitat.
—Alex Kuffner, The Providence Journal, 12 Feb. 2026
Police said the mother, who is 35 weeks pregnant, suffered head wounds and burns.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 2026
Ten survivors needed medical treatment, including three firefighters who suffered minor injuries and a 22-year-old man rushed to Harlem Hospital in critical condition with burns covering 99% of his body.
—Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 11 Feb. 2026
One person in the home suffered burns and was taken to Bristol Hospital, Hart said.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 10 Feb. 2026
Fines withdrawn Last year, the state withdrew more than $425,000 in fines stemming from a May 2025 incident in which two firefighters received chemical burns while on the site for a training exercise.
—Jessica Hill, Los Angeles Times, 8 Feb. 2026
It has long been used as feed for chickens and poultry and salves derived from chickweed are recommended to reduce inflammation, especially in the case of bug bites and burns.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 6 Feb. 2026
Two Minneapolis firefighters are being treated for minor burns suffered while battling a blaze Thursday morning at a three-story residential building.
—Stephen Swanson, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
Verb
That’s because it’s made by heating limestone to high temperatures, a process that burns a large amount of fossil fuels for energy and releases carbon dioxide from the limestone in the process.
—Alcina Johnson Sudagar, The Conversation, 12 Feb. 2026
Stationary biking typically burns more calories in a shorter period of time and is easier on the joints.
—Rikkilynn Shields Hannigan, Health, 10 Feb. 2026
Production is entirely dependent on electricity and the generator burns about 700 hryvnias ($16) worth of fuel per hour.
—Kamila Hrabchuk, Fortune, 8 Feb. 2026
The sky has deepened to a clear blue, though the famously slow sunset still burns orange on the horizon.
—Rick Jordan, Travel + Leisure, 8 Feb. 2026
Musk’s move can be seen as a way to salvage xAI, which burns $1 billion a month, the FT’s tech team reports.
—Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 4 Feb. 2026
In immediate succession, Alesia burns her hands on a bunch of hot plates.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 3 Feb. 2026
Your body burns additional calories in the cold from shivering.
—Kaelyn Lynch, Outside, 23 Jan. 2026
But if Broncos head coach Sean Payton, a future Hall of Famer and offensive whiz, burns that blitz early, Maye and the offense must patch a few holes the Texans exploited in order to play catch-up.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 20 Jan. 2026
Noun
In one, an officer suffered burns and a severe cut, requiring 13 stitches, while arresting a man from El Salvador; he was charged with assault and the case is pending.
—Natasha Korecki, NBC news, 14 Feb. 2026
Without the burns, understories grew in, creating perfect tick habitat.
—Alex Kuffner, The Providence Journal, 12 Feb. 2026
Police said the mother, who is 35 weeks pregnant, suffered head wounds and burns.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 2026
Ten survivors needed medical treatment, including three firefighters who suffered minor injuries and a 22-year-old man rushed to Harlem Hospital in critical condition with burns covering 99% of his body.
—Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 11 Feb. 2026
One person in the home suffered burns and was taken to Bristol Hospital, Hart said.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 10 Feb. 2026
Fines withdrawn Last year, the state withdrew more than $425,000 in fines stemming from a May 2025 incident in which two firefighters received chemical burns while on the site for a training exercise.
—Jessica Hill, Los Angeles Times, 8 Feb. 2026
It has long been used as feed for chickens and poultry and salves derived from chickweed are recommended to reduce inflammation, especially in the case of bug bites and burns.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 6 Feb. 2026
Two Minneapolis firefighters are being treated for minor burns suffered while battling a blaze Thursday morning at a three-story residential building.
—Stephen Swanson, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burns
Verb
-
In San Francisco, Chinatown glows with lanterns, pop‑up performances, and bustling markets as the city builds toward its iconic Chinese New Year Parade on March 7 — one of the largest outside Asia.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Your 5th House of Creativity glows with a Solar Eclipse, inviting playful expression and heartfelt risk that helps love and artistry feel alive again.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
17 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
-
South Dakota’s biggest data center consumes 30 megawatts, and the state has none of the vastly larger data centers that have proliferated elsewhere.—
Makenzie Huber,
States Newsroom,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Once Ali returns from his exile an absurdly wealthy man (and sporting a comically fake mustache), his brutality consumes everyone around him, and Yıldız’s hatred of him grows.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
16 Feb. 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
-
Jodie Turner-Smith presented Teyana Taylor with the Vanguard Spotlight Award, which celebrates a trailblazer who ignites the imaginations of cognoscenti and audiences alike.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
12 Feb. 2026
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This time, his Bride (Buckley) not only comes alive, but also ignites a cultural revolution as the outlaw lovers embark on a cross-country crime spree.—
Sydney Bucksbaum,
Entertainment Weekly,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Fighting rages on Since the RSF overran el-Fasher, which had been one of the army’s last strongholds in Darfur, fighting has recently concentrated in various areas of Kordofan.—
Noha Elhennawy,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
-
New York City faces budget hardships, an affordability crisis that rages on, and an urgent need for government to deliver.—
Zohran Mamdani,
Washington Post,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Burns.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burns. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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