variants
or smoulder
1
as in to anger
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 to blaze
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 smolder
In the best-case scenario, all that will remain of our planet will be a lump of smoldering iron and nickel.
—
Paul Sutter, Space.com, 3 June 2025
In many cases the flights continued to their destination after a member of the flight crew was able to place the malfunctioning device in a thermal containment bag, but in some cases the flights were diverted due to smoking or smoldering devices.
—Michael Bartiromo, The Hill, 25 May 2025
Our own sun will experience this latter transformation in around six billion years after shedding most of its mass during a swollen red giant phase, eventually sputtering out as a smoldering stellar ember.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 12 June 2025
Overwintering fires continue through winter by smoldering in forest duff and peat underground, only to start up again in the spring.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 12 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for smolder
Paul Sutter, Space.com, 3 June 2025
In many cases the flights continued to their destination after a member of the flight crew was able to place the malfunctioning device in a thermal containment bag, but in some cases the flights were diverted due to smoking or smoldering devices.
—Michael Bartiromo, The Hill, 25 May 2025
Our own sun will experience this latter transformation in around six billion years after shedding most of its mass during a swollen red giant phase, eventually sputtering out as a smoldering stellar ember.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 12 June 2025
Overwintering fires continue through winter by smoldering in forest duff and peat underground, only to start up again in the spring.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 12 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for smolder
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smolder
Verb
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Cambodia angered by neighbor’s new restrictions on border crossings PHNOM PENH, Cambodia -- Cambodia's government on Tuesday accused Thailand of escalating border tensions by imposing new restrictions that have blocked almost all land crossings, especially for tourists heading into Cambodia.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
25 June 2025
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As a mom, I’m angered at the existence of so many abusers who lure children through the internet.—
Nicole Russell,
USA Today,
20 June 2025
Verb
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More than five months ago, the Eaton wildfire blazed through this Greater Los Angeles community of Altadena.—
Melanie Stetson Freeman,
Christian Science Monitor,
20 June 2025
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National Park Service When the summer sun is blazing, there’s no better way to cool off than by heading underground.—
Erin Gifford,
USA Today,
18 June 2025
Verb
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The demonstration spanned much of the Loop and River North neighborhoods and periodically snarled traffic on several crowded thoroughfares, including DuSable Lake Shore Drive.—
Caroline Kubzansky,
Chicago Tribune,
12 June 2025
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The four-time Oscar winner returned to the Croisette this week, not with a new film to premiere — at least not yet — but to honor Amores Perros, the snarling, kinetic masterpiece that launched his career a quarter century ago.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
21 May 2025
Verb
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The pair, who met as college undergrads, both burned with idealism and recognized their privilege could be leveraged for a game-changing idea.—
Carole Horst,
Variety,
13 Sep. 2023
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The Ellen MacArthur Foundation promotes circular fashion and says that, in the United States, an amount of clothing equal to a garbage truck is ferried to landfills or burned every second.—
Neeti Mehra,
Treehugger,
13 Sep. 2023
Verb
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The situation was on the minds of many who cheered when the Ford steamed from its pier in Norfolk, with tugboats hugging the carrier's hull and sailors lining the sprawling deck in their dress-white uniforms.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
25 June 2025
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History trickled into the bitterness between the two sides and left Roberts still steaming even after the Dodgers’ 8-6 win.—
Dennis Lin,
New York Times,
18 June 2025
Verb
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There is stabbing and shooting before Derringer and Clarke parachute out of the flaming plane together.—
Caryn James,
HollywoodReporter,
27 June 2025
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Other images show the flaming sun over the same landscape and alligators wading in the water.—
Eli Wizevich,
Smithsonian Magazine,
25 June 2025
Verb
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Spend your days exploring historic sites, sampling small-batch spirits, and snapping photos with the town’s beloved pig statues—a nod to Smithfield’s famous ham.—
Erin Gifford,
Southern Living,
20 June 2025
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Ronny Mauricio snapped a 15-inning scoreless streak with an RBI single off Spencer Strider in the bottom of the second.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
20 June 2025
Verb
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The first Tron had played out as a series of face-offs featuring glowing figures against a black background, replicating the blank environment of an arcade screen.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
27 June 2025
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Miguel and Angel were grinning maniacs standing in the middle of the set with their arms around each other’s shoulders, like ballplayers after a winning game surrounded by a circle of glowing fans.—
Helen Schulman,
The Atlantic,
26 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Smolder.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smolder. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
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