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
Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 3 May 2026
This anger crackles around him like a smoldering fire, igniting and engulfing everyone from the workers on his farm, his meek sister Férula (Fernanda Castillo), to Clara and, eventually, to their daughter, Blanca (Sara Becker and later Fernanda Urrejola), Alba’s idealistic mother.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 29 Apr. 2026
The shooting has reignited a smoldering public debate about the Pretrial Fairness Act, often referred to as the SAFE-T Act, which eliminated cash bail in Illinois and instead left it to judges to determine who would be held pending trial and who would be released.
—Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026
In Debbie Allen’s production, the magnetic Joshua Boone is the smoldering coal that will eventually bring that heat.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 26 Apr. 2026
One told a boss about red hot coals and smoldering ash.
—Alene Tchekmedyian, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026
She’d been diagnosed with smoldering multiple myeloma, a precursor to cancer, and received infusions to keep it from progressing to active multiple myeloma for years.
—Angus Chen, STAT, 20 Apr. 2026
In the fall, the temperature cools and the trees turn, providing a smoldering backdrop for outdoor concerts and festivals.
—Ellie Nan Storck, Travel + Leisure, 16 Apr. 2026
And Jacob Elordi, the Thinking Man’s Heartthrob, avoided becoming a generic Netflix idol by smoldering his way to an Oscar nomination, in between his seasons playing the angsty jock Nate.
—New York Times, 9 Apr. 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
Deven Kolluri plays Pontius Pilate as a smooth, smoldering fashion plate.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 3 May 2026
This anger crackles around him like a smoldering fire, igniting and engulfing everyone from the workers on his farm, his meek sister Férula (Fernanda Castillo), to Clara and, eventually, to their daughter, Blanca (Sara Becker and later Fernanda Urrejola), Alba’s idealistic mother.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 29 Apr. 2026
The shooting has reignited a smoldering public debate about the Pretrial Fairness Act, often referred to as the SAFE-T Act, which eliminated cash bail in Illinois and instead left it to judges to determine who would be held pending trial and who would be released.
—Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026
In Debbie Allen’s production, the magnetic Joshua Boone is the smoldering coal that will eventually bring that heat.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 26 Apr. 2026
One told a boss about red hot coals and smoldering ash.
—Alene Tchekmedyian, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026
She’d been diagnosed with smoldering multiple myeloma, a precursor to cancer, and received infusions to keep it from progressing to active multiple myeloma for years.
—Angus Chen, STAT, 20 Apr. 2026
In the fall, the temperature cools and the trees turn, providing a smoldering backdrop for outdoor concerts and festivals.
—Ellie Nan Storck, Travel + Leisure, 16 Apr. 2026
And Jacob Elordi, the Thinking Man’s Heartthrob, avoided becoming a generic Netflix idol by smoldering his way to an Oscar nomination, in between his seasons playing the angsty jock Nate.
—New York Times, 9 Apr. 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
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The tension of that spot kick, in front of thousands of snarling Rangers fans, or the prospect of lining up for his country at a largely-home-soil World Cup in a few weeks’ time.—
Greg O'Keeffe,
New York Times,
16 May 2026
-
Gas prices are a big driver Gasoline prices have jumped sharply since the war began, snarling tanker traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital corridor for energy shipments.—
Scott Horsley,
NPR,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
Turner does not suddenly emerge like Clint Eastwood with guns blazing.—
Paul Fitzgerald,
Rolling Stone,
14 May 2026
-
Parking on the roof of the Universal Orlando garage in broad, blazing daylight, then passing two levels of empty, shaded parking slots.—
Dewayne Bevil,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 May 2026
Adjective
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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
-
The Lux was a 6-in-1 multicooker that could do everything from pressure cooking to steaming food.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
-
After steaming your oven, remove the racks and clean them separately in the kitchen sink.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Although reminiscent of flaming arrows, these much larger variants were simply far too large to be launched from bows.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
14 May 2026
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This campy, reality-shifting comedy series questions what would happen if a flaming misogynist woke up in a world that was completely matriarchal and subjugated men based on their gender.—
Madeleine Janz,
PEOPLE,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Neither was a glowing example of how to win in the playoffs, but the Sabres deserve full marks for sticking with it and taking over the game.—
Matthew Fairburn,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
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At the mid-sized company, any inquiries to the AI agent would come back with glowing comments about the vendor.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
Verb
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On a set play, Poulin — who was lined up against Kelly Pannek, one of the premier faceoff centers in the game — won the offensive zone draw clean, snapping the puck back to an awaiting Dubois.—
Hailey Salvian,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
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Dorofeyev answered after taking the puck from Chris Kreider, shifting to the slot and snapping a shot past Dostal.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Smoldering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smoldering. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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