as in to anger
to make angry
finding yet another mistaken charge on his hospital bill really steamed him up
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Recent Examples of steam up
On Valentine’s Day weekend, a fresh take on Brontë’s Wuthering Heights with Jacob Elordi and Margot Robbie is set to steam up screens.
—
Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 29 Dec. 2025
Halle Bailey and Regé-Jean Page are gearing up to steam up the screen in a romantic comedy that promises fun twists, turns and some terribly good-looking people.
—Janine Rubenstein, PEOPLE, 14 Nov. 2025
So why does this change have me a little, well, steamed up?
—Vivek Astvansh, The Conversation, 14 Oct. 2025
The large French doors at the back of the stage get steamed up to show how nuts things are getting outdoors.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 17 June 2025
When Jordan set this as his next film last fall, the obvious next question was who would Jordan would steam up the screen with.
—Justin Kroll, Deadline, 7 Mar. 2025
The two leads are irresistible and their romance steams up the screen.
—Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 13 Feb. 2025
The massive greenhouses are already steaming up from the unseasonably warm Texas weather, almost stifling any sort of yuletide anticipation—almost.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 1 Dec. 2024
QBs like Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, and Jalen Hurts steamed up in ADP, and Allen was routinely selected in the second round of drafts, with Hurts and Mahomes not too far behind.
—Theo Gremminger, The Athletic, 24 July 2024
Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 29 Dec. 2025
Halle Bailey and Regé-Jean Page are gearing up to steam up the screen in a romantic comedy that promises fun twists, turns and some terribly good-looking people.
—Janine Rubenstein, PEOPLE, 14 Nov. 2025
So why does this change have me a little, well, steamed up?
—Vivek Astvansh, The Conversation, 14 Oct. 2025
The large French doors at the back of the stage get steamed up to show how nuts things are getting outdoors.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 17 June 2025
When Jordan set this as his next film last fall, the obvious next question was who would Jordan would steam up the screen with.
—Justin Kroll, Deadline, 7 Mar. 2025
The two leads are irresistible and their romance steams up the screen.
—Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 13 Feb. 2025
The massive greenhouses are already steaming up from the unseasonably warm Texas weather, almost stifling any sort of yuletide anticipation—almost.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 1 Dec. 2024
QBs like Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, and Jalen Hurts steamed up in ADP, and Allen was routinely selected in the second round of drafts, with Hurts and Mahomes not too far behind.
—Theo Gremminger, The Athletic, 24 July 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for steam up
Verb
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With an economy that is persistently reliant on crude, pursuing policies that raise energy costs risks angering constituents.—
Justin Worland,
Time,
9 Jan. 2026
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The board instead approved a resolution to reexamine current campus spaces, angering some parents.—
Imani Cruzen,
Twin Cities,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The development appears to have infuriated the center’s interim president, MAGA loyalist Richard Grenell.—
Brian Niemietz,
Mercury News,
8 Jan. 2026
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Trump’s blunt warnings have infuriated the country’s leaders, who have since doubled down on crushing the protests.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN Money,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Starting over with a new coach or general manager right now takes contender off the table, and judging by the support thrown behind the head coach, would enrage Burrow in the process.—
Paul Dehner Jr,
New York Times,
6 Jan. 2026
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Jensen’s father, David Jensen, was enraged by McIntyre’s not guilty plea.—
PJ Green,
Kansas City Star,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
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She’d been awakened by their puppy, and had been annoyed at Ryan, who hadn’t gotten up early with the dog like he was supposed to.—
Jamie Thompson,
The Atlantic,
6 Nov. 2025
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Kelce was evaluated for a concussion in the locker room, and he was annoyed at having to answer the questions that are part of the test.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Steam up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/steam%20up. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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