Synonyms of smolder

smolder

verb

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.

Related Words

• anger
• snarl
• steam
• burn
• snap
• seethe
• foam
• storm
• sputter
• flare (up)
• rage
• blow up
• flip (out)
• vent
• fume
• bristle
• tee off
• vituperate
• fulminate
• bluster
• rant
• rave
• carry on
• stew
• take on
• rampage
• chafe
• fret

Dissimilar Words

• contain
• suppress
• soothe
• check
• restrain
• allay
• collect
• appease
• curb
• stifle
• compose
• subdue
• swallow
• tone (down)
• repress
• temper
• choke (back)
• strangle
• pacify
• smother
• moderate
• relax
• ease
• rein
• cool
• settle
• calm
• quell
• quiet
• pocket
• hush
• still
• let up

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.

Related Words

• blaze
• burn
• flame
• glow
• flicker
• combust
• ignite
• sputter
• spark
• fire
• sparkle
• kindle
• glisten
• char
• enkindle
• melt
• light (up)
• roast
• scorch
• waver
• catch
• deflagrate
• cook
• gleam
• bake
• flare (up)
• shimmer
• broil
• radiate
• twinkle
• brighten
• beam
• shine
• beat (down)
• swelter
• glitter
• flash
• glare
• gutter
• glimmer
• scintillate
• glint

Dissimilar Words

• extinguish
• dim
• darken

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of smolder

Photographer Sergen Sezgin captured one such scene firsthand, as the moon rose over a smouldering hillside close to the Turkish city of Balıkesir, a few hundred miles south of Tekirdağ. — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 30 July 2026

When smoldering tensions over Texas flared into the Mexican-American War in 1846, the Bear Flag Revolt was launched. — Literary Hub, 29 July 2026

West of Madrid, the ground is still smoldering days after wildfires moved through. — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 27 July 2026

What had been a smoldering issue within the tech world burst into plain view this week after Moonshot AI, a Chinese startup, unveiled an AI model with the technical prowess of many American ones — but which can be accessed at a fraction of the cost. — Rob Wile, NBC news, 23 July 2026