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.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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.
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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.
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of smoldering
Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 1 Feb. 2026
His smoldering stare has been illegally printed on T-shirts by dozens of small Chinese businesses through the global marketplace AliExpress.
—Paul Flahive, Austin American Statesman, 30 Jan. 2026
Blackened trees and a smoldering log made clear that fires are a common way to keep warm.
—Jordan Smith, IndyStar, 30 Jan. 2026
The ancient ritual will see smoke from smoldering native leaves waft over the island’s sandy beaches – to cleanse, and to heal.
—Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 24 Jan. 2026
The Times found that a battalion chief ordered firefighters to roll up their hoses and leave the burn area despite complaints by crews that the ground was still smoldering.
—Paul Pringle, Los Angeles Times, 21 Jan. 2026
As Duncan Kane, Teddy Dunn brought the smoldering James Dean energy to his traumatized character.
—Sezin Koehler, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Jan. 2026
And that eye could see past Dorothy’s drab uniform and Cindy Brady pigtails, her tall girl’s diffidence and her sweet girl’s shyness, to the bombshell smoldering underneath.
—Lili Anolik, Vanity Fair, 12 Jan. 2026
But the killing of George Floyd didn’t end in the smoldering rubble of the Third Precinct.
—Jennifer Brooks, Mercury News, 9 Jan. 2026
Verb
Besides their long, dark hair and smoldering gazes, what do Charli XCX and Salma Hayek have in common?
—Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 1 Feb. 2026
His smoldering stare has been illegally printed on T-shirts by dozens of small Chinese businesses through the global marketplace AliExpress.
—Paul Flahive, Austin American Statesman, 30 Jan. 2026
Blackened trees and a smoldering log made clear that fires are a common way to keep warm.
—Jordan Smith, IndyStar, 30 Jan. 2026
The ancient ritual will see smoke from smoldering native leaves waft over the island’s sandy beaches – to cleanse, and to heal.
—Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 24 Jan. 2026
The Times found that a battalion chief ordered firefighters to roll up their hoses and leave the burn area despite complaints by crews that the ground was still smoldering.
—Paul Pringle, Los Angeles Times, 21 Jan. 2026
As Duncan Kane, Teddy Dunn brought the smoldering James Dean energy to his traumatized character.
—Sezin Koehler, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Jan. 2026
And that eye could see past Dorothy’s drab uniform and Cindy Brady pigtails, her tall girl’s diffidence and her sweet girl’s shyness, to the bombshell smoldering underneath.
—Lili Anolik, Vanity Fair, 12 Jan. 2026
But the killing of George Floyd didn’t end in the smoldering rubble of the Third Precinct.
—Jennifer Brooks, Mercury News, 9 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smoldering
Adjective
-
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
-
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
-
The same stretch of highway was closed two weeks ago, snarling traffic around the city all weekend.—
Steven Rosenbaum,
CBS News,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The Sepulveda Transit Corridor project would connect the Westside to the San Fernando Valley in less than 20 minutes and ideally eliminate traffic congestion along one of the nation’s busiest corridors by offering an alternative to the snarling 405 Freeway over the Santa Monica Mountains.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Things quickly spiral out of control when secrets are exposed and guns start blazing.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 Jan. 2026
-
The latest uptick continued a blazing-hot stretch for gold.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Please tell me the sequel could answer the most burning question of the ’00s: How could Austin not recognize Sam in that mask?—
Stephanie McNeal,
Glamour,
13 Aug. 2025
-
Cooper, 30, asked Hargitay one more burning question about the actors' on-screen alter egos: will Olivia and Elliot ever end up together?—
Victoria Edel,
People.com,
26 June 2025
Verb
-
Today, an armada is steaming towards Iran.—
Mariam Khan,
ABC News,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Transfer to a large plate, spreading out to keep from steaming.—
Hana Asbrink,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Think again, as the California Zephyr, the longest route in America crosses through seven states, carving up Colorado’s canyons, then passing into Utah where the sun ignites mesas into flaming towers of rock.—
Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Jan. 2026
-
The flaming debris was clearly visible across Florida, from Tampa to Miami.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The film has a brutal 6% critic score on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, but the audience score is at a glowing 99%.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
31 Jan. 2026
-
In its center is the Orion Nebula, a glowing patch of light.—
Jase Parnell-Brookes,
Space.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Gold and silver prices fell sharply on Friday, snapping a powerful rally that has seen the metals shatter multiple records this year.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Korpisalo made 24 saves in loss, snapping a four-game personal win streak.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Smoldering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smoldering. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
