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
Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 May 2026
Auto temp regulation is also the reason a deep fryer is more reliable – the oil, ideally, won’t drop below the perfect frying point and won’t get so hot that is burns the exterior before the inside is cooked.
—Jack Hennessy, Outdoor Life, 29 Apr. 2026
The bathroom is situated next to the kitchen and is notable for having an incinerating toilet – as its name implies, this burns waste to ash.
—Adam Williams
april 23, New Atlas, 23 Apr. 2026
The facility is positioned as a potential model for decarbonizing aviation, which burns roughly 100 billion gallons of jet fuel per year globally.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 22 Apr. 2026
As war burns across England, an army of commoners rises to face the King’s might in a fight for justice and survival, led by Garfield’s protagonist.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 22 Apr. 2026
Fire burns at the site of recycling materials following a Russian strike in Kyiv on Thursday.
—Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 16 Apr. 2026
And for reminding us that our torch still burns.
—Donna Vickroy, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
When the clip concludes, Beth and Rip are seen walking away together while a building burns behind them.
—Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 13 Apr. 2026
Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026
Other common diagnoses included chemical burns, which made up about 14%; and skin or eye irritation, including dermatitis and conjunctivitis, at around 11%.
—Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 1 May 2026
During the operation, one firefighter suffered burns to his upper body and was transported to the hospital for evaluation.
—Briauna Brown, CBS News, 1 May 2026
The kids at Crocker Riverside Elementary School will not have to risk burns or staph infections when playing on the lawn, thanks to parent pushback against the installation of artificial turf.
—Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 1 May 2026
Seven officers were treated for injuries, including minor burns and lacerations, at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, according to police.
—ABC News, 1 May 2026
The injured cops were taken to Jamaica Hospital with minor burns, McIntosh said.
—Julian Roberts-Grmela, New York Daily News, 30 Apr. 2026
Fourteen people reported injuries, and all but one sustained first- or second-degree burns.
—Staff Author, PEOPLE, 25 Apr. 2026
The twin-engine upper stage was supposed to complete two burns to place AST SpaceMobile’s direct-to-cell satellite into an orbit approximately 285 miles (460 kilometers) above the Earth at inclination of 49 degrees to the equator.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 19 Apr. 2026
Verb
Jogging for 30 minutes burns 250 calories, so weeding is good for you and your garden.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 May 2026
Auto temp regulation is also the reason a deep fryer is more reliable – the oil, ideally, won’t drop below the perfect frying point and won’t get so hot that is burns the exterior before the inside is cooked.
—Jack Hennessy, Outdoor Life, 29 Apr. 2026
The bathroom is situated next to the kitchen and is notable for having an incinerating toilet – as its name implies, this burns waste to ash.
—Adam Williams
april 23, New Atlas, 23 Apr. 2026
The facility is positioned as a potential model for decarbonizing aviation, which burns roughly 100 billion gallons of jet fuel per year globally.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 22 Apr. 2026
As war burns across England, an army of commoners rises to face the King’s might in a fight for justice and survival, led by Garfield’s protagonist.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 22 Apr. 2026
Fire burns at the site of recycling materials following a Russian strike in Kyiv on Thursday.
—Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 16 Apr. 2026
And for reminding us that our torch still burns.
—Donna Vickroy, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
When the clip concludes, Beth and Rip are seen walking away together while a building burns behind them.
—Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 13 Apr. 2026
Noun
First responders removed a man who sustained burns to his body.
—Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026
Other common diagnoses included chemical burns, which made up about 14%; and skin or eye irritation, including dermatitis and conjunctivitis, at around 11%.
—Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 1 May 2026
During the operation, one firefighter suffered burns to his upper body and was transported to the hospital for evaluation.
—Briauna Brown, CBS News, 1 May 2026
The kids at Crocker Riverside Elementary School will not have to risk burns or staph infections when playing on the lawn, thanks to parent pushback against the installation of artificial turf.
—Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 1 May 2026
Seven officers were treated for injuries, including minor burns and lacerations, at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, according to police.
—ABC News, 1 May 2026
The injured cops were taken to Jamaica Hospital with minor burns, McIntosh said.
—Julian Roberts-Grmela, New York Daily News, 30 Apr. 2026
Fourteen people reported injuries, and all but one sustained first- or second-degree burns.
—Staff Author, PEOPLE, 25 Apr. 2026
The twin-engine upper stage was supposed to complete two burns to place AST SpaceMobile’s direct-to-cell satellite into an orbit approximately 285 miles (460 kilometers) above the Earth at inclination of 49 degrees to the equator.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 19 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burns
Verb
-
On the western horizon, Venus glows brightly at sunset, while Jupiter hangs just above it.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
1 May 2026
-
Even if other tracks on BASS2 don’t quite rise to the same level, the record glows with new confidence.—
Harry Tafoya,
Pitchfork,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Tucson will also be at or near record temperatures through March 27 as the state’s unprecedented heat wave scorches on, the weather service said.—
Ray Stern,
AZCentral.com,
25 Mar. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
This all comes as the legal fight over the audit steams ahead, over 15 months after 72% of the state signed off on the ballot measure.—
Lance Reynolds,
Boston Herald,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Mile End's Bohème Vintage stocks quality wool and denim, and steams them right behind the counter.—
Charlie Hobbs,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 Mar. 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
-
Equally troubling, this annual cycle consumes so much time and energy that there is almost none left to actually think about how the money is spent.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
4 May 2026
-
The global economy consumes about 100 million barrels of oil every day.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
Insects drone over running brooks.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
Maris re-ignites a relationship with Alex, a devoted old flame whose growing love for Maxy forces her to make a deadly choice.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
7 May 2026
-
Lindsay jokes that Kyle lost his wedding ring but found a DJ career, which lights the long fuse that ignites the whole evening.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
While speculation rages amongst industry experts over the fate of summer travel, residents are still eager to get away from home.—
Pat Maio,
Oc Register,
2 May 2026
-
There’s something about it that rages and burns, especially among young women who process their emotions through melody and melodrama.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Burns.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burns. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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