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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of smolder
The tiles and artwork on the walls were smashed and smoldering, chunks still peeling away from the thankfully stubborn aerolite.
—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
26 June 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
In 2024, a Lineage facility in Washington state caught fire and smoldered for two months, Northwest Public Broadcasting reported.
—
Holly Yan,
CNN Money,
22 June 2026
More specifically, the ’90s chemistry queen Rene Russo, who has smoldered onscreen with everyone from Clint Eastwood and Mel Gibson to Pierce Brosnan and John Travolta.
—
Jesse Hassenger,
Entertainment Weekly,
18 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for smolder
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
26 June 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
In 2024, a Lineage facility in Washington state caught fire and smoldered for two months, Northwest Public Broadcasting reported.
—
Holly Yan,
CNN Money,
22 June 2026
More specifically, the ’90s chemistry queen Rene Russo, who has smoldered onscreen with everyone from Clint Eastwood and Mel Gibson to Pierce Brosnan and John Travolta.
—
Jesse Hassenger,
Entertainment Weekly,
18 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for smolder
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smolder
Verb
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Younger, more far left candidates across the nation, from California to Indiana, are running this year to try and oust older, longtime congressional incumbents — angering Democratic Party leaders.
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Not further angering Republicans took precedence over protecting the creative freedom of CBS’ producing partners.
Verb
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On a rainy night in early June 2011, Albert Saijo lay on a mattress, a fire blazing in the hearth, his wife by his side.
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Forecasters warn of triple-digit heat indices and blazing hot temperatures that could break records and linger through Independence Day.
Verb
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The purists were always going to take issue with a Prancing Horse that had an electric powertrain instead of snarling internal combustion engine, but its unorthodox design, courtesy of Jony Ivy’s LoveFrom studio, has received just as much criticism.
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Chopper 2 The crash snarled traffic as the northbound lanes of the turnpike's inner roadway north of Interchange 12 were shut down all morning.
Verb
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Most of the smoke is coming from the Iron Fire in Utah, which has burned more than 21,000 acres.
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The world has known that adding heat-trapping gases to the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels and cutting down forests will warm the globe, said Jennifer Francis, a climate scientist at the Woodwell Climate Research Center on Cape Cod, who was not involved in the research.
Verb
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When in doubt, stick to food that is cooked and served steaming hot.
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Enjoy a steaming plate of weekend-only biscuits and gravy.
Verb
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True insanity seldom results from a huge, flaming blowout when driving.
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Footage on social media captured victims falling through flaming windows as first responders attempted to reach them.
Verb
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Playing the Atlanta Dream, the Eastern Conference’s top team, Golden State hit 15 3-pointers to cruise to a 77-66 win at home and snap its two-game losing streak.
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Name something worse than going to snap a photo of the beach, only to figure out that your phone’s battery is dead.
Verb
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Akin to a snake shedding its skin, the TikToker would peel the finished mask from their face to reveal a bouncy, glowing complexion.
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As far as Lendeborg’s on-the-court fit with the Warriors, Butler gave a glowing assessment.
Cite this Entry
“Smolder.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smolder. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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