Synonyms of flames

flames 1 of 2

noun

plural of flame

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

• darlings
• sweethearts
• lovers
• sweeties
• sweets
• dears
• loves
• girlfriends
• beloveds
• boyfriends
• wives
• girls
• honeys
• boys
• husbands
• trueloves
• sweetie pies
• hons
• mistresses
• squeezes
• pets
• brides
• tootsies
• amours
• admirers
• swains
• gals
• paramours
• dolls
• beaux
• grooms
• lasses
• ducks
• men
• fellows
• inamoratas
• escorts
• suitors
• ladyloves
• wooers
• dates
• gallants
• significant others
• crushes
• steadies
• fiancés
• heartthrobs
• intendeds

flames

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of flame

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

• burns
• glows
• blazes
• fires
• combusts
• flickers
• gleams
• smolders
• shines
• ignites
• goes up in flames
• kindles
• sparks
• melts
• scorches
• lights (up)
• cooks
• beams
• chars
• bakes
• roasts
• flares (up)
• wavers
• sparkles
• flashes
• enkindles
• sputters
• beats (down)
• deflagrates
• broils
• radiates
• catches
• glares
• glints
• glitters
• shimmers
• brightens
• glistens
• glimmers
• gutters
• swelters
• twinkles
• scintillates

2

as in erupts

to develop suddenly and violently

my anger flamed when the usher told my friend to shut up

Synonyms & Similar Words

• erupts
• explodes
• breaks out
• bursts (forth)
• blazes (up)
• flares (up)
• swells
• mushrooms
• rockets
• mounts
• snowballs
• proliferates
• waxes
• detonates
• skyrockets
• touches off
• multiplies
• balloons
• burgeons
• blows up

3

as in glows

to shine with a bright harsh light

the noonday sun flamed down on the desert travelers

Synonyms & Similar Words

• burns
• glows
• blazes
• glares
• flares
• gleams
• flashes
• beams
• glances
• beats
• sparkles
• radiates
• glints
• glistens
• glitters
• shimmers
• twinkles
• glimmers
• blinds
• dazzles
• scintillates
• glisters
• dazes
• bedazzles

4

as in gleams

to shoot forth bursts of light

the actress's ruby necklace flamed dazzlingly under the bright lights

Synonyms & Similar Words

• gleams
• flashes
• glints
• sparkles
• shimmers
• shines
• glitters
• twinkles
• glistens
• glows
• glances
• glimmers
• winks
• lusters
• spangles
• beams
• coruscates
• scintillates
• glisters
• flares
• winkles
• radiates
• blazes
• blinds
• burns
• dazzles
• glares
• dazes
• bedazzles

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of flames

Noun

As the flames approached the community in July, the majority of the village’s 3,500 residents were forced to flee their homes, as hundreds of firefighters were deployed to tackle blazes more violent and unpredictable than in previous years. — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026

Videos from the fire zone showed towering smoke plumes rising above trees and neighborhoods as airplane tankers dropped fire retardant on the fast-moving flames. — Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2026

Authorities say that, in the June 8 incident, Flores poured two bottles of lighter fluid onto a burning California Highway Patrol vehicle to intensify the flames. — Seamus Bozeman, Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2026

Fire department deputy spokesman Yiannis Artopios told the outlet that conditions were constantly changing, making the flames difficult to tackle. — Robbie Griffiths, NPR, 4 Aug. 2026

Senate Republicans have yet to find solutions to overcome hurdles on key policy proposals, putting their annual August recess travel plans at risk of going up in flames. — Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 4 Aug. 2026

Recent months have seen oil refineries, weapons factories, and e-commerce logistical hubs go up in flames, adding further strain on a Russian economy that’s already cracking from high inflation, onerous borrowing costs, and soaring debt. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 3 Aug. 2026

Firefighters and Hellenic Civil Protection personnel battle advancing flames during a wildfire near Agios Nektarios in Western Attica, Greece, as firefighting operations continue under difficult conditions. — Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 3 Aug. 2026

Cal Fire officials said night-flying helicopters attacked spot fires overnight while bulldozers cut a fire line along a ridge east of Sand Creek Road after flames crossed the roadway. — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 21 July 2026

Phrases Containing flames

• go up in flames