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
William Jones
june 8, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 June 2026
The set comes with 35 sticks, each of which burns for up to 25 minutes, and a ceramic incense holder.
—Jackie Fields, PEOPLE, 1 June 2026
Sheets burns to be an everyday player, to contribute.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 June 2026
Drafty rooms, open windows, ceiling fans, and uneven surfaces can disrupt the flame, causing uneven melting, excessive soot, or wax that burns faster on one side than the other.
—Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 28 May 2026
No amount of venture capital spin can alter the basic math of a business model that burns billions to eliminate its own revenue stream.
—Sunil Sharan, Fortune, 27 May 2026
Nate burns the toast during breakfast!
—Natalia Winkelman, Variety, 27 May 2026
For a nation like China, which mines and burns vast amounts of the stuff, not using this resource is like leaving money on the table.
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 24 May 2026
The summit is a barren ash field, gray and treeless, scoured by sulfuric gas and acidic rain that burns whatever tries to grow.
—Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 23 May 2026
Brady Halbleib, CBS News, 7 June 2026
Fire is part of the natural evolution of savanna forests like the Cerrado and several species benefit from periodic burns, said Leandro Maracahipes, a biologist and Yale University researcher.
—ABC News, 7 June 2026
The Browns are a moribund, bad team that few people other than those who risk severe burns sailing on Lake Erie know anything about.
—Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 June 2026
Instead of dying from a broken neck, Purvis survived, suffering only rope burns on his neck.
—Austin Sarat, The Conversation, 4 June 2026
Lasers have long had a reputation for being a risky treatment for melanin-rich skin due to the heightened risk of burns or discoloration.
—Aimee Simeon, Allure, 3 June 2026
Authorities initially said one person was killed and nine were injured, including with chemical burns.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 31 May 2026
Mendoza searched for his roommate before exiting the burning building, and suffered burns, smoke inhalation and other injuries in the fire, his attorneys wrote.
—Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 May 2026
The driver suffered mild burns, but thanks in large part to Foxx, his life was saved.
—Skyler Trepel, Entertainment Weekly, 30 May 2026
Verb
Concentration burns glucose, decision-making depletes mental energy reserves, and by mid-afternoon, the prefrontal cortex is operating at a fraction of its morning capacity.
—William Jones
june 8, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 June 2026
The set comes with 35 sticks, each of which burns for up to 25 minutes, and a ceramic incense holder.
—Jackie Fields, PEOPLE, 1 June 2026
Sheets burns to be an everyday player, to contribute.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 June 2026
Drafty rooms, open windows, ceiling fans, and uneven surfaces can disrupt the flame, causing uneven melting, excessive soot, or wax that burns faster on one side than the other.
—Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 28 May 2026
No amount of venture capital spin can alter the basic math of a business model that burns billions to eliminate its own revenue stream.
—Sunil Sharan, Fortune, 27 May 2026
Nate burns the toast during breakfast!
—Natalia Winkelman, Variety, 27 May 2026
For a nation like China, which mines and burns vast amounts of the stuff, not using this resource is like leaving money on the table.
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 24 May 2026
The summit is a barren ash field, gray and treeless, scoured by sulfuric gas and acidic rain that burns whatever tries to grow.
—Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 23 May 2026
Noun
Jacob Smith, 20, suffered third-degree burns to his face, neck, hands, and shoulders and is now at UC Davis Medical Center for specialized treatment.
—Brady Halbleib, CBS News, 7 June 2026
Fire is part of the natural evolution of savanna forests like the Cerrado and several species benefit from periodic burns, said Leandro Maracahipes, a biologist and Yale University researcher.
—ABC News, 7 June 2026
The Browns are a moribund, bad team that few people other than those who risk severe burns sailing on Lake Erie know anything about.
—Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 June 2026
Instead of dying from a broken neck, Purvis survived, suffering only rope burns on his neck.
—Austin Sarat, The Conversation, 4 June 2026
Lasers have long had a reputation for being a risky treatment for melanin-rich skin due to the heightened risk of burns or discoloration.
—Aimee Simeon, Allure, 3 June 2026
Authorities initially said one person was killed and nine were injured, including with chemical burns.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 31 May 2026
Mendoza searched for his roommate before exiting the burning building, and suffered burns, smoke inhalation and other injuries in the fire, his attorneys wrote.
—Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 May 2026
The driver suffered mild burns, but thanks in large part to Foxx, his life was saved.
—Skyler Trepel, Entertainment Weekly, 30 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burns
Verb
-
His writing glows with his obvious love of plants and animals, not least his faithful dog, Roger.—
Rachel Syme,
New Yorker,
10 June 2026
-
Because of the black hole's immense gravitational forces, an AGN glows very brightly.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
Protection from the sun is key for this plant because bright sun scorches its leaves.—
Lauren David,
Southern Living,
4 June 2026
-
The United Kingdom smashed a century-old temperature record for the second time in 24 hours on Tuesday as a spring heat wave scorches parts of Western Europe, triggering government warnings about risks to life.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 May 2026
Verb
-
During that time, the steak essentially steams.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
15 May 2026
-
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
Verb
-
My eleven-year-old self rolls her eyes, glares at my thirty-six-year-old body, and silently calls me fat.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The complaint also claims that the image deceives customers into thinking Lipa has endorsed the product and dilutes her brand identity.—
Mary Cunningham,
CBS News,
11 May 2026
-
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
-
When the algae die and decompose, the process consumes oxygen that fish need to survive.—
Tyler Quattrin,
Twin Cities,
10 June 2026
-
The brain itself consumes roughly 20-25% of resting metabolic energy in humans, compared to just 3-4% in most mammals.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
6 June 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
-
Fewer, but more ‘devastating’ blazes That the world suffered fewer acres torched by wildfires in 2025 likely comes as little relief to the countries and cities that battled the infernos last year.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
1 June 2026
-
That’s the two-seamer that kind of blazes a trail in.—
Jayson Stark,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Burns.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burns. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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