Synonyms of smolders

smolders

verb

variants or smoulders

present tense third-person singular of smolder

1

as in snarls

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.

Related Words

• snarls
• steams
• angers
• burns
• seethes
• snaps
• foams
• storms
• sputters
• rages
• flares (up)
• fumes
• bristles
• blows up
• flips (out)
• vents
• fulminates
• vituperates
• blusters
• tees off
• raves
• rants
• takes on
• chafes
• carries on
• stews
• rampages
• frets

Dissimilar Words

• soothes
• contains
• suppresses
• collects
• restrains
• smothers
• allays
• subdues
• composes
• curbs
• represses
• stifles
• swallows
• checks
• reins
• strangles
• tones (down)
• pockets
• chokes (back)
• tempers
• moderates
• appeases
• relaxes
• pacifies
• eases
• cools
• settles
• calms
• quiets
• stills
• quells
• hushes
• lets up

2

as in blazes

to be on fire usually with smoke but few flames

They look forward to those long summer nights telling stories beside a smoldering campfire.

Related Words

• blazes
• burns
• flames
• glows
• flickers
• combusts
• ignites
• sputters
• sparks
• sparkles
• glistens
• fires
• kindles
• gleams
• melts
• shimmers
• scorches
• wavers
• lights (up)
• enkindles
• chars
• bakes
• catches
• radiates
• shines
• cooks
• roasts
• flares (up)
• deflagrates
• brightens
• twinkles
• swelters
• glitters
• beams
• broils
• beats (down)
• flashes
• glares
• glimmers
• gutters
• scintillates
• glints

Dissimilar Words

• extinguishes
• darkens
• dims

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of smolders

The inside of the mound was tightly stacked with beech wood which smolders for weeks until it's been turned into charcoal — a craft that's been practiced in the Harz mountain region in eastern Germany for hundreds of years. — ABC News, 27 July 2026

Hamas’ October 2023 attack on Israel – the deadliest security failure in the country’s history – sparked the war in Gaza and a multifront conflagration that still smolders almost three years later. — Dina Kraft, Christian Science Monitor, 24 June 2026

Brûlée, a new brunch restaurant inspired by classic American Southern food, has already become a hotspot in Chicago, but smolders with culinary potential. — Louisa Kung Liu Chu, Chicago Tribune, 16 June 2026

Neighbors living near the Ontario warehouse say Abdulkarim should face more than arson charges, as equipment still smolders at the site and questionable air quality lingers after last week's massive blaze, covering an area the size of 21 football fields. — Austin Turner, CBS News, 13 Apr. 2026

Throughout the compilation of clips, Kristy smiles and smolders in the mirror while using a bottle of the luxury brand's Libre Berry Crush perfume. — Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 27 Jan. 2026

Blood orange and saffron ignite the air, myrrh smolders beneath, and the woods hum with market heat. — Adam Hurly, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2025