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
David Fear, Rolling Stone, 11 Feb. 2026
Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 5 Apr. 2026
But there is some comparable firepower smoldering in the undercards, including Sunday homecomings for Dance Gavin Dance and the first Oleander gig in eight years.
—Aaron Davis, Sacbee.com, 30 Mar. 2026
Here’s a list of the most memorable jumps from trash TV to the smoldering dumpster of 21st century politics.
—Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
When just a few smoldering spots remained, the group gathered to debrief and share H-E-B sandwich trays.
—Julia James, Dallas Morning News, 26 Mar. 2026
Then, trace your finger to its peak, which, to me, was his starring role as smoldering special forces operative Scott McCoy in the 1986 action movie The Delta Force, co-starring a frail-looking but grizzled and unsmiling Lee Marvin in his last movie.
—John Devore, Rolling Stone, 20 Mar. 2026
In a post on X, Afghan deputy government spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat announced the attack and death toll after social media footage showed the smoldering ruin of the Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 17 Mar. 2026
Now, ex-government whistleblowers are adding fuel to Havana Syndrome’s smoldering embers.
—Joe Wilkins Published Mar 11, Futurism, 11 Mar. 2026
But Harvey had somehow secured a placard to get our car through the police roadblocks and checkpoints to the still-smoldering site.
—Maer Roshan, HollywoodReporter, 10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
Casting two of the most smoldering contemporary actors on the planet clearly stacks the deck, and carries on the long tradition of pairing a dashing figure of brooding handsomeness (Laurence Olivier, Ralph Fiennes) with a breathless screen beauty (Merle Oberon, Juliette Binoche).
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 11 Feb. 2026
Verb
In the footage, a large field of aircraft debris can be seen still smoldering.
—Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 5 Apr. 2026
But there is some comparable firepower smoldering in the undercards, including Sunday homecomings for Dance Gavin Dance and the first Oleander gig in eight years.
—Aaron Davis, Sacbee.com, 30 Mar. 2026
Here’s a list of the most memorable jumps from trash TV to the smoldering dumpster of 21st century politics.
—Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
When just a few smoldering spots remained, the group gathered to debrief and share H-E-B sandwich trays.
—Julia James, Dallas Morning News, 26 Mar. 2026
Then, trace your finger to its peak, which, to me, was his starring role as smoldering special forces operative Scott McCoy in the 1986 action movie The Delta Force, co-starring a frail-looking but grizzled and unsmiling Lee Marvin in his last movie.
—John Devore, Rolling Stone, 20 Mar. 2026
In a post on X, Afghan deputy government spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat announced the attack and death toll after social media footage showed the smoldering ruin of the Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 17 Mar. 2026
Now, ex-government whistleblowers are adding fuel to Havana Syndrome’s smoldering embers.
—Joe Wilkins Published Mar 11, Futurism, 11 Mar. 2026
But Harvey had somehow secured a placard to get our car through the police roadblocks and checkpoints to the still-smoldering site.
—Maer Roshan, HollywoodReporter, 10 Mar. 2026
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
-
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
-
The Iran war is also snarling shipments of other commodities, like fertilizer, aluminum, and helium.—
Nicholas Gordon,
Fortune,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Law enforcement took a 37-year-old Kuna man into custody Wednesday evening after a 2-mile police chase came to an end near Interstate 84, snarling traffic and forcing road closures, Meridian police said.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
These influences, fueled by blazing hearths, continue to inform Maydan’s direction.—
Bill Addison,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Tyson may not have blazing speed, but his ability to separate with his route running would take a lot of pressure off Wilson and the rest of the receiving corps.—
Antwan Staley,
New York Daily News,
8 Apr. 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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As of Tuesday morning, the Audace was steaming past the Bahamas while Total’s gas trading desk fields bids from potential buyers in Europe and Asia.—
Tim McDonnell,
semafor.com,
31 Mar. 2026
-
That includes popular dishes such as golden-brown birria tacos and steaming molcajete.—
Michael Deeds,
Idaho Statesman,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
There are blinking bacteria, flaming fungus, shimmering squid, and flashing fish.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Aside from the game, Banana Ball also features a number of hijinks, including dancing base coaches and umpires and hitters wielding flaming bats.—
Kaycee Sloan,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
At this point, my relationship with glowing rectangles is stronger than most of my Hinge dates.—
Juhi Wadia,
PC Magazine,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The glowing hose creates a visible path that helps rescuers navigate thick smoke and find their way back to safety.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Out of contact with Earth, the crew continued snapping pictures and shared a batch of maple cookies supplied by Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, the first person not from the United States to ever travel to deep space.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The pull and release of awareness is like an elastic band snapping against my skin.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Smoldering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smoldering. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.
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