as in boiling
having a notably high temperature
the air conditioning was broken, and it was sweltering in the office
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 sweltering
Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 29 Apr. 2026
The Duchess of Sussex’s pair featured subtle cut-outs that boost airflow — an unexpected detail that helps keep feet cool on sweltering days — along with an easy slip-on design that’s great for anyone on the go (or those who don't want to bend down).
—Taylor Jean Stephan, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026
The story switches between the present day and 1990s Camden, at the height of Cool Britannia and begins in the sweltering summer of 1995 as a man buries a body during a violent storm.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 22 Apr. 2026
Farmers are accustomed to dealing with sweltering temperatures and dry conditions in the summer, but not this early in the year.
—Tristan Bove, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sweltering
Adjective
Was the entire world a sweltering sauna back then?
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 29 Apr. 2026
The Duchess of Sussex’s pair featured subtle cut-outs that boost airflow — an unexpected detail that helps keep feet cool on sweltering days — along with an easy slip-on design that’s great for anyone on the go (or those who don't want to bend down).
—Taylor Jean Stephan, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026
The story switches between the present day and 1990s Camden, at the height of Cool Britannia and begins in the sweltering summer of 1995 as a man buries a body during a violent storm.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 22 Apr. 2026
Farmers are accustomed to dealing with sweltering temperatures and dry conditions in the summer, but not this early in the year.
—Tristan Bove, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sweltering
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sweltering
Adjective
-
More humane methods of killing lobsters pre-boiling include a sharp knife through the head, electrical stunning, or freezing.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
29 Dec. 2025
-
Agrawal and her team studied ionic liquids — salts that are liquid at sub-boiling temperatures (below 212 degrees Fahrenheit, or 100 degrees Celsius) — as a potential hospitable environment for life.—
Stefanie Waldek,
Space.com,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
If a strip feels warm to the touch or shows signs of scorching, replace it.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Charlotte Observer,
8 May 2026
-
Westerners, Arabs and Indians dominate business and finance, while laborers from poor countries in Asia and Africa toil for long hours in scorching temperatures at oil facilities and construction sites — often with few protections.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 May 2026
Adjective
-
Oscar had shown me pages of this searing fiction periodically.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 May 2026
-
While ferocious heat dominates the region for much of the year, the Sky Islands remain cool thanks to their high elevation, providing the perfect escape from the searing weather below.—
Cu Fleshman,
Travel + Leisure,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
There are also suggestions that sea ice may be melting because of warmth trapped just below the surface of the ocean, Scambos said.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
8 May 2026
-
Driven in part by fears that the frozen landscapes of Antarctica may be irreversibly melting away because of climate change, tourism to the bottom of the world is soaring.—
Sam McNeil,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
Adjective
-
The first quarter was back and forth until the Aces got hot, going on a 13-0 run over a 90-second stretch to break open a double-digit lead fueled by six points from Carter.—
Emily Adams,
Hartford Courant,
14 May 2026
-
When simmered in water just hot enough to bring it to a safe temperature, the meat will be juicy and tender.—
Rebecca Firkser,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
The planet’s surface is broiling at about 460 degrees Celsius (860 degrees Fahrenheit), about double the temperature required to melt pure tin.—
Emma Gometz,
Scientific American,
10 May 2026
-
Avoid broiling delicate greens or dishes with fresh herbs, which will easily char under the heat.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
19 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
Adjective
-
The work could improve the design and modeling of molten salt reactors, which are one of the leading concepts for advanced nuclear energy systems.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
12 May 2026
-
Neither rocky with a thick hydrogen atmosphere nor an ocean world, L 98-59 d might occupy a new class of molten, sulfurous exoplanet, according to a study in Nature Astronomy.—
K. R. Callaway,
Scientific American,
11 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sweltering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sweltering. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
