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
David Fear, Rolling Stone, 11 Feb. 2026
Maer Roshan, HollywoodReporter, 10 Mar. 2026
This passive-aggressive feud continues to feature smoldering embers.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 7 Mar. 2026
The boats, in other words, are already smoldering.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 3 Mar. 2026
The Times reported in October that crews were ordered to leave the Lachman fire, even though the ground was still smoldering and rocks were hot to the touch.
—Alene Tchekmedyian, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2026
Worshippers arriving for the day's first prayers found the damage and a smoldering fire that spewed black smoke across the entrance of the Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq Mosque in the town of Tell, near Nablus, and stained the ornate doorway.
—Aref Tufaha, Arkansas Online, 24 Feb. 2026
Lucifer matches gave easier voice to grievances that had been smoldering in the breasts of rural people for decades.
—Literary Hub, 19 Feb. 2026
At the end of the video, some Los Angeles Fire Department crews are seen showing up to extinguish the smoldering remains of the boxes that carried the fireworks.
—Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 16 Feb. 2026
This leads to the stars ending their lives as smoldering stellar embers called white dwarfs.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
Casting two of the most smoldering contemporary actors on the planet clearly stacks the deck, and carries on the long tradition of pairing a dashing figure of brooding handsomeness (Laurence Olivier, Ralph Fiennes) with a breathless screen beauty (Merle Oberon, Juliette Binoche).
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 11 Feb. 2026
Verb
But Harvey had somehow secured a placard to get our car through the police roadblocks and checkpoints to the still-smoldering site.
—Maer Roshan, HollywoodReporter, 10 Mar. 2026
This passive-aggressive feud continues to feature smoldering embers.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 7 Mar. 2026
The boats, in other words, are already smoldering.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 3 Mar. 2026
The Times reported in October that crews were ordered to leave the Lachman fire, even though the ground was still smoldering and rocks were hot to the touch.
—Alene Tchekmedyian, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2026
Worshippers arriving for the day's first prayers found the damage and a smoldering fire that spewed black smoke across the entrance of the Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq Mosque in the town of Tell, near Nablus, and stained the ornate doorway.
—Aref Tufaha, Arkansas Online, 24 Feb. 2026
Lucifer matches gave easier voice to grievances that had been smoldering in the breasts of rural people for decades.
—Literary Hub, 19 Feb. 2026
At the end of the video, some Los Angeles Fire Department crews are seen showing up to extinguish the smoldering remains of the boxes that carried the fireworks.
—Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 16 Feb. 2026
This leads to the stars ending their lives as smoldering stellar embers called white dwarfs.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 4 Feb. 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
-
That was followed by Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, which led to a spike in energy prices, snarling supply chains and prompting a risk-off move in emerging markets.—
Tiisetso Motsoeneng,
semafor.com,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Out slink the striped cats, snarling and roaring, leaping at each other or at me.—
Alessandro Meregaglia,
The Conversation,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Article continues below Unfortunately, a passing asteroid deposits a killer alien robot in their midst, and the soldiers must fend for themselves as this marauding mech stalks them with guns and lasers blazing.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Nauset came out blazing in the third period, producing some significant chances that forced Medfield defenders to retreat into the crease and clear the puck out of harm’s way.—
Jack Murray,
Boston Herald,
8 Mar. 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
-
These workers control everything from individually steaming each stage curtain to rigging massive pieces of audio equipment.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
-
But portioning the layered dish into individual servings before cooking and steaming it on the stovetop?—
Gretchen McKay,
Boston Herald,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
And while most of the spacecraft will likely disintegrate in a flaming blaze during reentry, a few components could survive, according to NASA.—
Jackie Wattles,
CNN Money,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Find a bit of room for the profiteroles or Grand Marnier flaming crème brûlée.—
Lydia Mansel,
Southern Living,
1 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Participants dressed and playing in glowing gear will be up for a grand prize.—
Abby Hamblin,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Instead, a thin ring of sunlight remains visible around the moon's silhouette, a glowing 'ring of fire'.—
Daisy Dobrijevic,
Space.com,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The cysts are harmless but greatly affect the guard’s range of motion, including the flexing and snapping motions necessary to take a jump shot.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Ending that three-year skid to make the quarterfinals for the first time since 2003 would require snapping LAFC’s three-tournament run of getting that far themselves.—
Josh Gross,
Daily News,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Smoldering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smoldering. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
