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
Joseph Person, The Athletic, 31 Dec. 2024
The sheriff’s office said Clifford’s body was found near a smoldering vehicle northeast of Tucson.
—Tim Stelloh, NBC News, 27 Dec. 2024
Fire crews are on scene and have put out the fire, though the vehicle is still smoldering, Marchegion said.
—Killian Baarlaer, The Courier-Journal, 19 Dec. 2024
People laugh at the Wet Bandits slipping on ice, the Wet Bandits being branded by a smoldering doorknob, the Wet Bandits having their hair burned off, getting hit in the face with paint cans, stepping on a nail, swinging from a rope into a brick wall.
—Erin Somers, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2024
The Destroyers are the more controversial picks — wired to disrupt existing institutions, and acting on smoldering grievances against the organizations they've been picked to lead.
—Axios, 16 Dec. 2024
Dressed in a traditional-looking headpiece at what appears to be an after-hours bonfire celebration, the star makes smoldering eye contact with someone offscreen while giving a sly smile.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 16 Dec. 2024
Together, Juno’s flybys have enabled an unprecedented look at the smoldering moon, including taking observations of its poles for the first time.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 13 Dec. 2024
The car erupted into flames, careened across the track like a meteor on a particularly bad day, and came to rest against the wall as little more than a smoldering wreck.
—Greg Engle, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
Verb
A day after making the moves, the Panthers provided three hours of evidence in Tampa that focusing on the future is the prudent thing to do rather than fiddling with the embers of a smoldering 4-12 season.
—Joseph Person, The Athletic, 31 Dec. 2024
The sheriff’s office said Clifford’s body was found near a smoldering vehicle northeast of Tucson.
—Tim Stelloh, NBC News, 27 Dec. 2024
Fire crews are on scene and have put out the fire, though the vehicle is still smoldering, Marchegion said.
—Killian Baarlaer, The Courier-Journal, 19 Dec. 2024
People laugh at the Wet Bandits slipping on ice, the Wet Bandits being branded by a smoldering doorknob, the Wet Bandits having their hair burned off, getting hit in the face with paint cans, stepping on a nail, swinging from a rope into a brick wall.
—Erin Somers, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2024
The Destroyers are the more controversial picks — wired to disrupt existing institutions, and acting on smoldering grievances against the organizations they've been picked to lead.
—Axios, 16 Dec. 2024
Dressed in a traditional-looking headpiece at what appears to be an after-hours bonfire celebration, the star makes smoldering eye contact with someone offscreen while giving a sly smile.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 16 Dec. 2024
Together, Juno’s flybys have enabled an unprecedented look at the smoldering moon, including taking observations of its poles for the first time.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 13 Dec. 2024
The car erupted into flames, careened across the track like a meteor on a particularly bad day, and came to rest against the wall as little more than a smoldering wreck.
—Greg Engle, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
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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The clip, a 53-minute visualizer posted on YouTube, shows four red stockings hanging over a blazing fireplace alongside a Christmas tree.—
Latoya Gayle,
People.com,
20 Dec. 2024
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The clip, a 53-minute visualizer posted on YouTube, shows four red stockings hanging over a blazing fireplace alongside a Christmas tree.—
Latoya Gayle,
People.com,
20 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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As in most burning issues, there is no absolutely right or wrong answer.—
Phil Blair,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 June 2025
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Keep scrolling for more can’t-miss deals and the answers to your most burning questions about Way Day.—
Ali Faccenda,
People.com,
17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The incoming and outgoing CEOs both had glowing words for each other on Tuesday.—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
18 June 2025
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Keeping skin soft, smooth, glowing—and protected against UV rays—should be at the top of your summer priority list.—
Kiana Murden,
Vogue,
16 June 2025
Adjective
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Among the disturbing scenes from the recent Los Angeles protests, which erupted over federal immigration raids, are those in which protestors stood around the flaming Waymos.—
Deni Ellis Béchard,
Scientific American,
9 June 2025
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Somewhat surprisingly, flaming saganaki is now also catching on in Greece, especially in tourist-heavy restaurants, such as the Athens Yacht Club.—
David Hammond,
Chicago Tribune,
9 June 2025
Verb
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Coursing through all of these elements is a seething anger at authoritarianism.—
Glenn Whipp,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Dec. 2024
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Cox and his team were brought in by a handful of wealthy Colorado ranch owners who were still seething over the ballot measure to introduce wolves that passed in 2020 by less than one percent.—
Chris Dorsey,
Forbes,
18 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The prequel will introduce his family and girlfriend and the events that led up to his victory, notorious for angering the Capitol elite.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA TODAY,
12 Mar. 2025
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Reports suggest that some Republican lawmakers are frustrated with Musk’s bluster and that the DOGE approach to slashing the federal bureaucracy is angering constituents and making lawmakers less popular in their districts.—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
12 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Smoldering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smoldering. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.
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