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
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Recent Examples of flames
Tori Apodaca, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
Such actions only fan the flames of resistance for resistance’s sake.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 27 Jan. 2026
As people fled, government forces closed off the main exits of the market toward the street and directly shot at people trying to flee the flames, Saman said.
—Somayeh Malekian, ABC News, 27 Jan. 2026
Flying into the flames The drone is equipped with an infrared camera.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 26 Jan. 2026
For the many writers living in Altadena when the Eaton fire erupted last January, the flames took their houses, their places of refuge and inspiration, their community gathering centers and their archives.
—Erica Zora Wrightson, Los Angeles Times, 26 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
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
Noun
Some people posted the aftermath on social media that showed boxes of fireworks littered across the street with flames still active.
—Tori Apodaca, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
Such actions only fan the flames of resistance for resistance’s sake.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 27 Jan. 2026
As people fled, government forces closed off the main exits of the market toward the street and directly shot at people trying to flee the flames, Saman said.
—Somayeh Malekian, ABC News, 27 Jan. 2026
Flying into the flames The drone is equipped with an infrared camera.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 26 Jan. 2026
For the many writers living in Altadena when the Eaton fire erupted last January, the flames took their houses, their places of refuge and inspiration, their community gathering centers and their archives.
—Erica Zora Wrightson, Los Angeles Times, 26 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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flames
Noun
-
Other companies scheduled to report are market darlings SanDisk and Western Digital , as well as Deckers, and Stryker.—
Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
29 Jan. 2026
-
While sitting front row at the Zuhair Murad Haute Couture Week Spring/Summer 2026 show on January 28, the London society darlings seemingly nodded to their status as British sartorial tastemakers with an NSFW twist on power dressing.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Your body burns additional calories in the cold from shivering.—
Kaelyn Lynch,
Outside,
23 Jan. 2026
-
According to Amnesty International, Israel used white phosphorus, a highly reactive chemical that burns at extremely high temperatures when exposed to air.—
Josiane Yazbeck,
The Conversation,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
When a rebellion erupts between Earth and its colonies, the ensuing conflict is fought by pilots in massive mechanized contraptions known as mobile suits.—
Justin Kroll,
Deadline,
28 Jan. 2026
-
The president posted a short video that day on social media that shows a missile targeting a ship, which erupts in flame.—
Carrie Johnson,
NPR,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The video shared on Instagram shows vehicles parked on the Margaret McDermott Bridge as the countdown at Reunion Tower glows in the background.—
Timia Cobb
Breaking News Reporter,
Dallas Morning News,
29 Jan. 2026
-
To complete the warm golden hues, the automatic movement is topped with a 22-karat gold rotor, which glows through the caseback.—
Carol Besler,
Forbes.com,
20 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
-
However, there are several couples from earlier seasons who have gone the distance, including America’s sweethearts from season 1, Lauren and Cameron.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Glamour,
28 Jan. 2026
-
The couple, high school sweethearts with six kids and 20 grandchildren, sought to diversify their business ventures with the purchase, Mark Jones told the Examiner.—
Nick Wooten,
Dallas Morning News,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The council in 2024 rejected a 498-unit apartment complex nearby in Deer Canyon over similar concerns related to evacuations and the area’s proneness to blazes.—
Victoria Le,
Oc Register,
14 Jan. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
During high season the hotel scene explodes with a vengeance when New York, London, Paris, and Los Angeles all tend to converge in this very spot.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Jan. 2026
-
In unedited body camera footage, an agent lobs what appears to be a flashbang into the air, which explodes in the same spot seen in the DHS video.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flames.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flames. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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