as in darlings
a person with whom one is in love
decided to look up an old flame while she was in town
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in burns
to be on fire especially brightly
guests gathered around as the Yule log flamed brightly in the inn's great stone fireplace
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in erupts
to develop suddenly and violently
my anger flamed when the usher told my friend to shut up
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in glows
to shine with a bright harsh light
the noonday sun flamed down on the desert travelers
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in gleams
to shoot forth bursts of light
the actress's ruby necklace flamed dazzlingly under the bright lights
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of flames
Ashley Portillo, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
Throughout the spring and deep into training camp, Williams felt the flames of Johnson’s intensity almost on an hourly basis.
—Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
The department also shared footage of the firefighters in action, working together to douse the flames.
—Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 7 Jan. 2026
While the team tackles a warehouse fire, Mouch has a heart attack, Herrmann gets caught inside while trying to save him, and Casey’s trapped too because of the spread of the flames.
—Will Harris, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Jan. 2026
Across the canyon, flames leapt up the Paseo Miramar trail, still two miles away as the crow flies, but already too close to ignore.
—Jonathan Taplin, Rolling Stone, 7 Jan. 2026
Wreaths of gray smoke and orange flames curled over a car in the capital, in a video of the aftermath.
—Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 11 Nov. 2025
At least six vehicles and three auto-rickshaws caught fire, Delhi's deputy fire chief said later, adding that the flames had been doused by firefighting teams.
—Shivam Patel, USA Today, 10 Nov. 2025
Visuals on local media showed thick plumes of smoke rising from a congested street as firefighters battled flames spreading to nearby vehicles.
—Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
Noun
An apartment complex under construction in Denver went up in flames five days ago.
—Ashley Portillo, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
Throughout the spring and deep into training camp, Williams felt the flames of Johnson’s intensity almost on an hourly basis.
—Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
The department also shared footage of the firefighters in action, working together to douse the flames.
—Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 7 Jan. 2026
While the team tackles a warehouse fire, Mouch has a heart attack, Herrmann gets caught inside while trying to save him, and Casey’s trapped too because of the spread of the flames.
—Will Harris, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Jan. 2026
Across the canyon, flames leapt up the Paseo Miramar trail, still two miles away as the crow flies, but already too close to ignore.
—Jonathan Taplin, Rolling Stone, 7 Jan. 2026
Wreaths of gray smoke and orange flames curled over a car in the capital, in a video of the aftermath.
—Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 11 Nov. 2025
At least six vehicles and three auto-rickshaws caught fire, Delhi's deputy fire chief said later, adding that the flames had been doused by firefighting teams.
—Shivam Patel, USA Today, 10 Nov. 2025
Visuals on local media showed thick plumes of smoke rising from a congested street as firefighters battled flames spreading to nearby vehicles.
—Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flames
Noun
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Whales have been beached Once upon a time, whales were the darlings of the beer scene.—
Jay R. Brooks,
Mercury News,
9 Jan. 2026
-
First, the Art Institute invites Grammy darlings Third Coast Percussion to perform pieces for player piano by late architect Bruce Goff, the subject of a major retrospective running through March.—
Hannah Edgar,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Saito burns about 7,000 calories per day and has lost 13 pounds so far.—
Kelly Meyerhofer,
jsonline.com,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Unlike conventional scramjets that rely on kerosene, SPARTAN burns hydrogen, producing zero carbon emissions while enabling reusable, low-maintenance hypersonic flight.—
Kapil Kajal,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Gunfire erupts The federal agent standing to the front-left of the vehicle pulls out his gun.—
Chris Looft,
ABC News,
8 Jan. 2026
-
However, the birth of Viserys' son, Daemon (Matt Smith), erupts tensions that will ultimately cause the brutal war of succession known as the Dance of the Dragons.—
James Mercadante,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
On dark nights, the rim of the crater glows orange.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Inside, light from shaded lamps and sconces glows amber-soft.—
Bill Addison,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Like Beckham’s dress, the 100-percent silk dress softly gleams in the light.—
Izzy Baskette,
PEOPLE,
12 Dec. 2025
-
Despite a couple of funky skips, the album is fueled by the hunger of an artist who really wants the pop life again, perking up electro-scuzz and arena rock with new wave that gleams like glitter.—
Pitchfork,
Pitchfork,
4 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
The high school sweethearts grew into a family of three over the years that includes their three children—Cordé, Cordell, and Cori Broadus.—
Essence,
Essence,
4 Nov. 2025
-
The influencer, 26, graduated from nursing school in August 2024, and soon after, the high school sweethearts bought a house in Michigan, ending the long-distance aspect of their relationship, Adams tells PEOPLE exclusively.—
Meredith Wilshere,
PEOPLE,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
In another, a knockout image featuring two children resting on their backs, sunlight blazes with an almost divisive intent, turning one child’s eyeglasses opaque with its glare while leaving his friend’s face in shadow.—
Dawn Chan,
New Yorker,
6 Dec. 2025
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Areas damaged by the devastating wildfires back in January have put fire-scarred hillsides from Eaton and Palisades blazes at risk of flooding and landslides.—
Charisma Madarang,
Rolling Stone,
14 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Mike, Hopper, and everyone else who loves her can only stand there and watch as the bomb goes off and the exotic matter explodes.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
1 Jan. 2026
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But if the geological plumbing is clogged, perhaps by silica minerals or rock debris, the pressure can build until the water explodes, vaporizing into steam and shooting boiling water, mud, rocks, and other debris into the air.—
Owen Clarke,
Outside,
23 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Flames.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flames. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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