SMOLDER Synonyms: 103 Similar and Opposite Words

smolder

verb

variants or smoulder

Definition of smolder

as in to anger

to be excited or emotionally stirred up with anger She smoldered when first learning of her son's misbehavior at school, but had calmed down by the time he arrived home.

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Dissimilar Words

as in to blaze

to be on fire usually with smoke but few flames They look forward to those long summer nights telling stories beside a smoldering campfire.

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Dissimilar 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 smolder The blaze was just under a square mile (2 square kilometers) and 5% contained Saturday, when firefighters were still dousing water on smoldering debris from a home that burned. — ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026 With little notice, a new outbreak could go from smoldering to explosive, or a virus only a coterie of experts cared about — think Zika — could become a global crisis. — Andrew Joseph, STAT, 13 Oct. 2026 Its headquarters were left smoldering on the banks of the Nile. — Abdelrahman Elgendy, Time, 6 Oct. 2026 Officials could not immediately identify the fatal fire victim, who was found dead inside the smoldering apartment. — Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 23 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for smolder

Recent Examples of Synonyms for smolder

Verb

Data center demand began driving up electric bills last year across a 13-state electricity grid stretching from Illinois to New Jersey and Maryland, angering ratepayers.

— Marc Levy, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
Indeed, the survey showed that use of the horn is the most common action when drivers consider another driver to be annoying or angering them.

— Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of anger

Verb

Netflix blazed a path in the streaming era that many of its media rivals have tried to follow.

— Brian Steinberg, Variety, 27 Oct. 2026
Drawing upon classic English country house motifs, her own family memories, and the blazing colors of New England fall, the star designer has conjured a series of instant heirlooms.

— Sam Cochran, Architectural Digest, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of blaze

Verb

Kerry McCoy’s guitar juices up a mid-song gallop by abruptly pivoting from big and noisy to compressed and snarling; at the climax, everything cuts out for a second to spotlight a Daniel Tracy drum fill.

— Patrick Lyons, Pitchfork, 13 Oct. 2026
Stepping into the band’s lead guitarist role was Nick Johnston, a forceful presence delivering crisp musical phrases that could be fittingly elegant or snarling.

— Steve Appleford, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of snarl

Verb

And, like the Raptor engines that power another SpaceX launcher, the giant Starship, Clydesdale will burn liquid oxygen and liquid methane, a combo known as methalox.

— Mike Wall, Space.com, 27 Oct. 2026
Residents evacuated as officials decided three days later to blow open five rail cars and burn the vinyl chloride inside.

— ABC News, ABC News, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of burn

Verb

Hyderabadi Chicken Dum Biryani — steamed under a pastry crust and flavored with seasonings blended in India by Adi’s mother.

— Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 15 Oct. 2026
The best way to preserve the magnesium content in vegetables is to microwave or steam them.

— Carrie Madormo, Verywell Health, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of steam

Verb

That’s especially true in the Southeast, where there’s no shortage of uniquely thrilling opening acts from Chief Osceola and his flaming spear at Florida State to the eagle’s pre-game lap around Jordan Hare Stadium at Auburn.

— Elizabeth Hutchison Hicklin, Southern Living, 21 Oct. 2026
The flaming tower is part of a component most often known in Russian by the acronym ELOU-AVT, shorthand for an Electric Desalting and Atmospheric-Vacuum Distillation Unit.

— Jarrett Ley, Washington Post, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of flame

Verb

The Jayhawks had their 58-game homecourt win streak in exhibitions snapped.

— Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2026
The Horned Frogs continued their dominance over Baylor with a 17-6 victory last Saturday at McLane Stadium in Waco, snapping the Bears’ four-game winning streak.

— Neil Nakahodo, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of snap

Verb

At night, the Sycamore trees glow with lantern light, inviting guests to indulge in late night cocktails and conversation.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026
With glowing bats, spiders and eyes, the lights accent the historic home with just the right touch.

— Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of glow

Browse Nearby Words

smoky

smolder

smoldered

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Smolder.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smolder. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of smolder

verb

Example Sentences

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