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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of burns
Pete Hammond, Deadline, 8 Sep. 2025
The spark becomes a blaze, and trust between citizens and the military burns with it.
—Eric Chastain, Twin Cities, 7 Sep. 2025
As a guy who is simply not built for summer (sweaty, burns easily, refuses to wear shorts), the turning of the calendar to September adds a little lead to my tread, with visions of cider and sweaters dancing in my head.
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 5 Sep. 2025
Naperville Park District will conduct prescribed, or controlled, burns at a dozen parks this fall.
—Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
In sales, trust is currency, and nothing burns trust faster than sounding unoriginal, lazy or shady.
—Don Markland, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
And in this part of his life, passion burns brightly.
—Sophie Monks Kaufman, IndieWire, 2 Sep. 2025
High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) HIIT burns belly fat by creating a huge calorie burn in less time, said Schlottman.
—Sherri Gordon, Health, 28 Aug. 2025
Jogging for 30 minutes burns 250 calories, so weeding is good for you as well as your garden.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Aug. 2025
Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Harnessing the benefits of niacinamide, the top-seller protects from both UVA rays (responsible for visible aging) and UVB ones (those that actually cause burns).
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 12 Sep. 2025
Footage of the aftermath showed some victims with severe burns across their bodies and charred clothing.
—Rocío Muñoz-Ledo, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2025
In recent months, customers who have used Mitchum's deodorant have shared stories and photos online about dealing with redness, skin rashes, chemical burns and severe pain after using the products.
—Vanessa Etienne, People.com, 11 Sep. 2025
In July 2022, Nelson consulted with her dermatologist about her burns during a routine skin check.
—Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 11 Sep. 2025
Research shows that honey reduces infection and increases tissue regeneration, especially in burns.
—Brittany Lubeck, Verywell Health, 11 Sep. 2025
The wife of former Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal died on Tuesday from burns after her home was set on fire, media reported, and videos shared on social media showed protesters beating Nepali Congress party leader Sher Bahadur Deuba and his wife, Arzu Rana Deuba, the current foreign minister.
—Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
The only safe way to get real fires was laying gas lines and creating gas burns, without releasing any particles in the air that would potentially cause a forest fire.
—Tomris Laffly, Time, 6 Sep. 2025
Verb
Theirs was a life together cut off in its infancy, but still the flame burns bright.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 8 Sep. 2025
The spark becomes a blaze, and trust between citizens and the military burns with it.
—Eric Chastain, Twin Cities, 7 Sep. 2025
As a guy who is simply not built for summer (sweaty, burns easily, refuses to wear shorts), the turning of the calendar to September adds a little lead to my tread, with visions of cider and sweaters dancing in my head.
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 5 Sep. 2025
Naperville Park District will conduct prescribed, or controlled, burns at a dozen parks this fall.
—Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
In sales, trust is currency, and nothing burns trust faster than sounding unoriginal, lazy or shady.
—Don Markland, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
And in this part of his life, passion burns brightly.
—Sophie Monks Kaufman, IndieWire, 2 Sep. 2025
High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) HIIT burns belly fat by creating a huge calorie burn in less time, said Schlottman.
—Sherri Gordon, Health, 28 Aug. 2025
Jogging for 30 minutes burns 250 calories, so weeding is good for you as well as your garden.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Aug. 2025
Noun
Responding firefighters discovered Maureen in the living room with severe burns, a fractured larynx and soot in her airway, the DA's office said.
—Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Harnessing the benefits of niacinamide, the top-seller protects from both UVA rays (responsible for visible aging) and UVB ones (those that actually cause burns).
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 12 Sep. 2025
Footage of the aftermath showed some victims with severe burns across their bodies and charred clothing.
—Rocío Muñoz-Ledo, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2025
In recent months, customers who have used Mitchum's deodorant have shared stories and photos online about dealing with redness, skin rashes, chemical burns and severe pain after using the products.
—Vanessa Etienne, People.com, 11 Sep. 2025
In July 2022, Nelson consulted with her dermatologist about her burns during a routine skin check.
—Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 11 Sep. 2025
Research shows that honey reduces infection and increases tissue regeneration, especially in burns.
—Brittany Lubeck, Verywell Health, 11 Sep. 2025
The wife of former Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal died on Tuesday from burns after her home was set on fire, media reported, and videos shared on social media showed protesters beating Nepali Congress party leader Sher Bahadur Deuba and his wife, Arzu Rana Deuba, the current foreign minister.
—Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
The only safe way to get real fires was laying gas lines and creating gas burns, without releasing any particles in the air that would potentially cause a forest fire.
—Tomris Laffly, Time, 6 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burns
Verb
-
Its central glass dome—home to the swimming paradise—glows like a lantern at dusk.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
At the absolute highest energies, the Moon glows with a light all its own, powered by nuclear recoils, and irrespective of any light, or anything at all, emitted by the Sun.—
Ethan Siegel,
Big Think,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
At its heart sits Viti, a striking blue crater lake that steams invitingly in contrast to the stark black landscape.—
David Nikel,
Forbes.com,
16 Aug. 2025
-
CookingPal’s gadget suggests meals, fetches recipes, chops, stirs, and steams ingredients, and then cleans up after itself.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
3 Jan. 2020
Verb
-
Spotify users will be able to set lossless audio listening — which consumes more bandwidth — for Wi-Fi and cellular connectivity, as well as downloads for offline listening.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Having no modules between cell and pack consumes less space and improves energy density.—
James Morris,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Swift’s drink is served wrapped in steel wool, which the server ignites at the table, causing sparks to fly.—
Jenna Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Directed by veteran action filmmaker Art Camacho, the film follows Tony (Foster), a former Marine trying to rebuild his life as a mechanic—until his brother (Collins) crosses the wrong people and ignites a violent chain of events.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Fire rages through the Singha Durbar, the main administrative building for the Nepal government, in Kathmandu on September 9, 2025 amid widespread protests.—
Alia Shoaib,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
-
As war rages in Europe, the two children navigate danger and secrets that challenge their understanding of family and friendship, reshaping their childhoods forever.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The interference has included both jamming—overpowering communications with strong radio signals—and spoofing, which tricks receivers into misreading their location or even the time.—
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Sep. 2025
-
Although they are born fairly helpless, infants have a few survival tricks up their swaddles.—
Elissa Strauss,
The Atlantic,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
As evidenced by his Instagram, Schwarzenegger spends a lot of time with his famous family, and Champion does too.—
Arielle Tschinkel,
PEOPLE,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Start with the processes that are already broken—those high-volume, repetitive tasks where your team spends hours on work that adds little strategic value.—
David Zwick,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Life-threatening flooding of creeks, roads and normally dry areas is likely.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Countless streams, rivers and creeks flow from the rainforest to a central river, eventually leading to the coast of Brazil and the Atlantic Ocean.—
Irene Wright,
Miami Herald,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Burns.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burns. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share