as in sweat
a state of nervous or irritated concern
the set designer spent the entire week before opening night in a swelter
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in to melt
Related Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of swelter
Literary Hub, 9 Jan. 2026
On the couch, in the summer swelter, their sticky bodies are inches apart, even as their souls drift.
—E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 17 Dec. 2025
Deanna Romano, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Jan. 2026
People hired by the contractors wear extensive protective equipment in the sweltering humidity and must have their blood tested regularly for dioxin.
—Anna Maria Barry-Jester, ProPublica, 30 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for swelter
Noun
Just two weeks earlier, during the swelter of August, the regiment had gone aboard a ferry at the foot of Maiden Lane to cross the river to Brooklyn.
—Literary Hub, 9 Jan. 2026
On the couch, in the summer swelter, their sticky bodies are inches apart, even as their souls drift.
—E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 17 Dec. 2025
Verb
Avoid summer, which brings sweltering heat with little shade and peak accommodation prices, or winter, as many guesthouses close in December and January.
—Deanna Romano, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Jan. 2026
People hired by the contractors wear extensive protective equipment in the sweltering humidity and must have their blood tested regularly for dioxin.
—Anna Maria Barry-Jester, ProPublica, 30 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for swelter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swelter
Noun
-
Day-to-day, sweat, humidity and friction are the routine wear-and-tear concerns.—
Samantha Agate,
Kansas City Star,
28 May 2026
-
Meanwhile, young founders are raising triple-digit millions without breaking a sweat.—
Richard Nieva,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
Add to that the soothing rhythm of a cozy train rocking along its tracks, and everyday stresses start to melt away.—
Jessica Puckett,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 June 2026
-
New research reveals that the honeybees responsible for crafting the queen's home effectively run a fever to help melt and blend special chemicals into the wax.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 June 2026
Noun
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Ednar Dayanghirang, director of the Office of Civil Defense in a nearby southern region, said more than 100 students attending morning flag-raising ceremonies sustained bruises and some fainted in panic at different elementary and high schools.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2026
-
But that’s hard to square with the panic that took hold of Moscow last month, when an annual military parade was shortened for fear it would be interrupted by Ukrainian drones.—
Anne Applebaum,
The Atlantic,
7 June 2026
Verb
-
As a scorching wind tears across the barren, rocky slopes of Komote Island off the shore of Lake Turkana in northern Kenya, Alfred Lenkutuk sits in the meager shelter of his hut, gazing out over the village where he was born and remembering better times.—
Tommy Trenchard,
NPR,
31 May 2026
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Nicole Maccalla, a member of Eaton Fire Residents United, spent five months fighting with her insurer after the Eaton fire scorched the roof of her home.—
Jason Henry,
Daily News,
31 May 2026
Noun
-
Rhodes celebrated with the crowd at the Inalpi Arena in Turin, while Gunther walked back up the entrance ramp in a huff.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
31 May 2026
-
David walks out of the kitchen and Moira huffs and takes his spot over the pot.—
Sabrina Weiss,
PEOPLE,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The community continues their day-to-day errands around us, harvesting sugar cane and stoking fires for cooking.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
In the early years, Barbara cooked homemade pasta and blueberry bread for customers who bought tandems.—
Mark Dent,
HubSpot,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
Reviewers say assembly is also quick and easy—a major plus for those who value style without the fuss.—
Kate McGregor,
Architectural Digest,
1 June 2026
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Once people knew what the fuss was about, however, the crowds swiftly dried up, and most reviews were mixed.—
Isaac Butler,
New Yorker,
30 May 2026
Verb
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People were quick to roast the woman in the comments.—
David Hookstead OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
1 June 2026
-
It’s named after French chemist Louis Camille Maillard, who identified the reaction that occurs when malt, meat and many other things are roasted.—
Jay R. Brooks,
Mercury News,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Swelter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swelter. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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