variants
or smouldering
as in flickering
being on fire with no visible flames but often with much smoke
All that was left of the campfire were smoldering embers.
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variants
or smouldering
1
as in snarling
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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2
as in blazing
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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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of smoldering
Jennifer Brooks, Mercury News, 9 Jan. 2026
In October, federal investigators announced the Palisades fire appeared to explode from a small brush fire still smoldering from a week prior.
—Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Governed by shadowy Pluto, this Water sign is quite polarizing, given its intensity and smoldering passion.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 25 Dec. 2025
The scene remains active with smoldering and flames contained to certain areas within the lumber, Hopkins said.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 17 Dec. 2025
In this refillable palette, four shades—including shimmering grey and metallic black—can be used together or separately to create a smoldering, perfect-for-nighttime look.
—Jenny Berg, Vogue, 12 Dec. 2025
Finally, Burning Rose is a smoldering floral blend that grounds rose petals and violet in birch and ebony wood.
—Jenny Berg, Allure, 5 Dec. 2025
Ángel Jiménez del Aguila, who died in 2010, need only follow the trail of flower petals, the scent of smoldering copal and the rhythm of danzón music to find his old front door, where his wife and children wait for him.
—Rocío Muñoz-Ledo, CNN Money, 3 Nov. 2025
Egypt’s economic woes Egypt is weathering soaring inflation, as well as instability from the still-smoldering war in neighboring Gaza.
—Sam McNeil, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2025
Verb
But the killing of George Floyd didn’t end in the smoldering rubble of the Third Precinct.
—Jennifer Brooks, Mercury News, 9 Jan. 2026
In October, federal investigators announced the Palisades fire appeared to explode from a small brush fire still smoldering from a week prior.
—Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Governed by shadowy Pluto, this Water sign is quite polarizing, given its intensity and smoldering passion.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 25 Dec. 2025
The scene remains active with smoldering and flames contained to certain areas within the lumber, Hopkins said.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 17 Dec. 2025
In this refillable palette, four shades—including shimmering grey and metallic black—can be used together or separately to create a smoldering, perfect-for-nighttime look.
—Jenny Berg, Vogue, 12 Dec. 2025
Finally, Burning Rose is a smoldering floral blend that grounds rose petals and violet in birch and ebony wood.
—Jenny Berg, Allure, 5 Dec. 2025
Ángel Jiménez del Aguila, who died in 2010, need only follow the trail of flower petals, the scent of smoldering copal and the rhythm of danzón music to find his old front door, where his wife and children wait for him.
—Rocío Muñoz-Ledo, CNN Money, 3 Nov. 2025
Egypt’s economic woes Egypt is weathering soaring inflation, as well as instability from the still-smoldering war in neighboring Gaza.
—Sam McNeil, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smoldering
Adjective
-
This year, the rumors swirl, a constant, low hum: Outer Heaven and Cuatro Gato, two more flickering lights, are expected to fade.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
2 July 2025
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But there’s more flickering contrast in Narayan van Maele’s lensing, which alternates dun realism with occasionally hyperreal lighting and composition, particularly when the pagan promise of fire is in the frame.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
25 Mar. 2022
Verb
-
Television cameras caught Adebayo snarling dismissively.—
Jon Krawczynski,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Entire families, with kids and dogs, took their holiday portraits — not with a jocular Santa, but with a snarling Krampus, standing in front of an Alpine forest backdrop.—
Deena Prichep,
NPR,
8 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Lenovo came out all guns blazing at CES 2026, using its biggest global stage yet to signal major leaps across devices, AI, and partnerships.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The Bears continue living that chorus out loud, devoted to chasing improvement with the blazing competitive fire exhibited by their head coach.—
Dan Wiederer,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Please tell me the sequel could answer the most burning question of the ’00s: How could Austin not recognize Sam in that mask?—
Stephanie McNeal,
Glamour,
13 Aug. 2025
-
Cooper, 30, asked Hargitay one more burning question about the actors' on-screen alter egos: will Olivia and Elliot ever end up together?—
Victoria Edel,
People.com,
26 June 2025
Verb
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Instead, he was bundled off in the middle of the night to the USS Iwo Jima steaming offshore in the Caribbean and then a flight to Stewart Air National Guard Base in the Hudson Valley on his way to a New York jail cell to await his trial.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
4 Jan. 2026
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The extra hydration and water vapor from a steaming mug of tea help thin the mucus.—
Angela Ryan Lee,
Verywell Health,
31 Dec. 2025
Verb
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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,
8 Nov. 2025
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This 32-foot-tall sculpture with flaming red eyes has alarmed travelers for decades, but the story of its creation is even more chilling.—
Maureen O'Hare,
CNN Money,
25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Bloom walked the carpet at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California, absolutely glowing.—
Christina Perrier,
InStyle,
4 Jan. 2026
-
Like its predecessor, the new annex is a sleek, politely glowing object.—
Jackson Arn,
Harpers Magazine,
30 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Plus, there’s no need to call a handyman to set up your new furniture, as assembly is as simple as snapping the metal base onto the seat.—
Maggie Horton,
PEOPLE,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Of those who have announced, former Congresswoman Katie Porter had an early lead in polling, although under 20% support, but she was heavily damaged when videos surfaced of her harsh reaction to a reporter’s question and snapping at one of her staffers.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Smoldering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smoldering. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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