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
Laura Sharman, CNN Money, 9 Mar. 2026
While the two men struggle with the jammed backdoor, Weisz’s character tosses them both a look before rushing toward the flames to grab her unfinished manuscript, written on legal pads, and dashing out of the cabin just in time.
—Meg Walters, Glamour, 9 Mar. 2026
In one video geolocated by NBC News, roiling orange flames and belching smoke could be seen rising from the Aghdasieh fuel depot in the city’s northern Tajrish district.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 9 Mar. 2026
Israel targeted Iran's oil facilities for the first time early Sunday, with videos showing huge flames lighting up the sky, while Tehran responded to attacks on its infrastructure by targeting that of its regional neighbors, hitting a desalination plant in Bahrain.
—Npr Staff, NPR, 8 Mar. 2026
Crews were called out to battle flames at the house on Morgan Street just south of 65th Street.
—Natalie Goldstick, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2026
Old flames are back in your world.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 8 Mar. 2026
On both flights, the nozzles on one of the boosters became engulfed in flames and broke off during liftoff.
—Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 Mar. 2026
The video also shows flames rising from a roundabout with onlookers recording the moment on their phones and cheering.
—Ramon Padilla, USA Today, 2 Mar. 2026
Noun
Dramatic images captured orange flames curling around a domed roof beneath the night sky, as a silhouetted crane directed a water jet over the raging blaze.
—Laura Sharman, CNN Money, 9 Mar. 2026
While the two men struggle with the jammed backdoor, Weisz’s character tosses them both a look before rushing toward the flames to grab her unfinished manuscript, written on legal pads, and dashing out of the cabin just in time.
—Meg Walters, Glamour, 9 Mar. 2026
In one video geolocated by NBC News, roiling orange flames and belching smoke could be seen rising from the Aghdasieh fuel depot in the city’s northern Tajrish district.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 9 Mar. 2026
Israel targeted Iran's oil facilities for the first time early Sunday, with videos showing huge flames lighting up the sky, while Tehran responded to attacks on its infrastructure by targeting that of its regional neighbors, hitting a desalination plant in Bahrain.
—Npr Staff, NPR, 8 Mar. 2026
Crews were called out to battle flames at the house on Morgan Street just south of 65th Street.
—Natalie Goldstick, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2026
Old flames are back in your world.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 8 Mar. 2026
On both flights, the nozzles on one of the boosters became engulfed in flames and broke off during liftoff.
—Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 Mar. 2026
The video also shows flames rising from a roundabout with onlookers recording the moment on their phones and cheering.
—Ramon Padilla, USA Today, 2 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flames
Noun
-
In the end, none of it mattered, because one night later, the espresso-guzzling darlings of the tournament extended a helping hand.—
Zack Meisel,
New York Times,
12 Mar. 2026
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Profits from touring and record and merch sales were enough to get by on, and over six years, the Weakerthans became Canadian indie-rock darlings.—
Hazlitt,
Hazlitt,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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If Sunday was any indication, the love affair between Avs fans and Kadri burns as hot as ever.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
9 Mar. 2026
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The white phosphorus then ignites and burns intensely, destroying the agents by incinerating them – a method meant to reduce the risk of spreading the materials and to limit potential harm to civilians and the surrounding environment.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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As debate erupts over its true authorship, Catherine must confront the power of legacy, and the cost of proving herself.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Those plans become reality when the volcano erupts, and all hell breaks loose.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Soft light glows over a dining room that seats roughly 40.—
Stephanie Breijo,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Green fluorescent protein, first isolated from a jellyfish, glows bright green when under a blue light.—
Marc Zimmer,
The Conversation,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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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
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The high school sweethearts moved to Cape Cod full time about 18 years ago after Jerry Boucher retired from Connecticut Natural Gas.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
20 Feb. 2026
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The couple are middle school sweethearts, having met in their home state of North Carolina.—
Bailey Bujnosek,
InStyle,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Low toward the west blazes Venus, which serves as a convenient celestial landmark to make a sighting of Mercury, which will be hovering not far from it.—
Joe Rao,
Space.com,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Jesse steps up on the mound and blazes the ball past him.—
Gail Sheehy,
Vanity Fair,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Birmingham reunites with Dutton in Marshals and is injured in the first episode when a bomb explodes during a protest at the Broken Rock reservation.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
1 Mar. 2026
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An incoming projectile explodes over the water in the bay of Haifa off of the northern Israeli coastal city on February 28, 2026.—
Emma Graham,
CNBC,
28 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flames.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flames. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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