sweltering 1 of 2

adjective

ˈswel-t(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce sweltering (audio)
Definition of swelteringnext
as in boiling
having a notably high temperature the air conditioning was broken, and it was sweltering in the office

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

sweltering

2 of 2

verb

present participle of swelter
as in scorching

Related 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 sweltering
Adjective
So do the engine, the drivetrain, the burning tires and the sweltering track surface. — Patrick Iversen, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026 The customer gulps it down in a single stretch and drops it into a bin – visible proof of his relief, at least for this moment, from the sweltering heat. — Light Oriye Tamunotonye, Christian Science Monitor, 3 Sep. 2026 In a sweltering apartment, that kind of drop can mean the difference between uncomfortable and unbearable. — Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Sep. 2026 Michigan is forecast to experience a sweltering summer-like week, and officials have issued a heat advisory for southwest Michigan counties where the heat index is expected to reach 100 degrees. — Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 1 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sweltering
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sweltering
  1. boiling
  2. scorching
  3. searing
  4. melting
  5. hot
  6. broiling
  7. burning
  8. cooking
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
Definition of boiling
Verb
  • Check between presses to avoid overheating or scorching the fabric.
    — Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 26 Sep. 2026
  • When Cody Turcotte arrived to fight a wildfire scorching homes in Spokane, Washington, last month, there weren't enough people at the scene to control it.
    — Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of scorching
Adjective
  • After winning the prestigious Golden Eye, Plambech returns with another searing analysis of the immigrant experience.
    — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 29 Sep. 2026
  • The durable porcelain enamel exterior resists chipping and cracking, while the matte black interior enhances browning and searing.
    — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of searing
Verb
  • The river also depends on melting snow to sustain it in the summer.
    — Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
  • There are some little remnants, some ice blocks still lying around and melting there on the hot rocks.
    — Imogen Foulkes, NPR, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of melting
Adjective
  • An extreme hear watch has been issued for the Los Angeles metro area in anticipation of highs reaching 100 degrees on Saturday and remaining hot through next week.
    — Sean Macaday, Sacbee.com, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Here in Los Angeles, the last few months have been exceptionally hot.
    — Pedro Moura, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of hot
Verb
  • Temperatures in the area approached or exceeded triple digits Wednesday, amid a punishing heat wave that is broiling Southern California.
    — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Dozens of young people, including a twenty-one-year-old professional footballer, drowned while seeking relief in open water; three French children died in broiling cars.
    — Eric Klinenberg, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of broiling
Adjective
  • Prosecutors said some of the money was used for recruiting new members and purchasing Ku Klux Klan robes and materials for cross-burning ceremonies.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 July 2026
  • In the case of the cross-burning incident, there is no comparison to the Jussie Smollett case.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 19 June 2026
Definition of burning
Verb
  • Some guy uploaded a video of his family’s recipe and gave me my mother’s cooking back.
    — Terrence O'Brien, The Verge, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Be sure to add sausage to chicken et al halfway through cooking to prevent them getting dried out.
    — Rick Martinez, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of cooking

Browse Nearby Words

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sweltering
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Cite this Entry

“Sweltering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sweltering. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

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