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
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Recent Examples of smoldering
David Fear, Rolling Stone, 11 Feb. 2026
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
This passive-aggressive feud continues to feature smoldering embers.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 7 Mar. 2026
The boats, in other words, are already smoldering.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 3 Mar. 2026
Firefighters went to the pier, which was closed in late 2024 after it was deemed structurally unsound, and found a section smoldering underneath.
—David Hernandez, San Francisco Chronicle, 1 Mar. 2026
The Times reported in October that crews were ordered to leave the Lachman fire, even though the ground was still smoldering and rocks were hot to the touch.
—Alene Tchekmedyian, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2026
Worshippers arriving for the day's first prayers found the damage and a smoldering fire that spewed black smoke across the entrance of the Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq Mosque in the town of Tell, near Nablus, and stained the ornate doorway.
—Aref Tufaha, Arkansas Online, 24 Feb. 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 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
This passive-aggressive feud continues to feature smoldering embers.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 7 Mar. 2026
The boats, in other words, are already smoldering.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 3 Mar. 2026
Firefighters went to the pier, which was closed in late 2024 after it was deemed structurally unsound, and found a section smoldering underneath.
—David Hernandez, San Francisco Chronicle, 1 Mar. 2026
The Times reported in October that crews were ordered to leave the Lachman fire, even though the ground was still smoldering and rocks were hot to the touch.
—Alene Tchekmedyian, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2026
Worshippers arriving for the day's first prayers found the damage and a smoldering fire that spewed black smoke across the entrance of the Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq Mosque in the town of Tell, near Nablus, and stained the ornate doorway.
—Aref Tufaha, Arkansas Online, 24 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smoldering
Adjective
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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
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Activists have long made Maryland a cultural battleground over transit, with pushes for traffic-snarling bike lanes, and doomed infrastructure projects like the Red Line, described by former Governor Larry Hogan as a boondoggle.—
Torrey Snow,
Baltimore Sun,
11 Mar. 2026
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That was followed by Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, which led to a spike in energy prices, snarling supply chains and prompting a risk-off move in emerging markets.—
Tiisetso Motsoeneng,
semafor.com,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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During last year’s blazing hot summer, residents lost air conditioning and during the winter numerous apartments were without heat.—
Jerry Shnay,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Mar. 2026
-
On Monday, March 16, officials responded to three hikers who were in the blazing sun at Camelback Mountain, a popular 2,706-foot summit 20 minutes from downtown Phoenix.—
Owen Clarke,
Outside,
18 Mar. 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
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These workers control everything from individually steaming each stage curtain to rigging massive pieces of audio equipment.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
-
But portioning the layered dish into individual servings before cooking and steaming it on the stovetop?—
Gretchen McKay,
Boston Herald,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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And while most of the spacecraft will likely disintegrate in a flaming blaze during reentry, a few components could survive, according to NASA.—
Jackie Wattles,
CNN Money,
10 Mar. 2026
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Find a bit of room for the profiteroles or Grand Marnier flaming crème brûlée.—
Lydia Mansel,
Southern Living,
1 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The Sombrero Galaxy was imaged to magnificent effect by the Hubble Space Telescope — most recently to mark its 35th anniversary in space — which revealed its sweeping disk-like structure and pronounced dusty lanes shining beneath its glowing galactic core.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
14 Mar. 2026
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In a sea of black and muted gowns, Alba was golden and glowing, the soft color punctuated with intermittent flower detailing.—
Katherine J Igoe,
InStyle,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Golden State was coming off a scrappy victory over hapless Washington, snapping a five-game losing streak.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
19 Mar. 2026
-
Rivera’s shutter starts snapping.—
Sammy Loren,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Smoldering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smoldering. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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