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
Pair them with a simple tank on sweltering days or a cozy sweater when the seasons change for a fresh new look that’s bound to attract compliments. — Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 11 Aug. 2026 The state’s first veterinary school marked the occasion Tuesday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Jonesboro in the sweltering August heat. — Arkansas Online, 11 Aug. 2026 It’s built on a sweltering steel guitar part, a lethal chorus melody and enough relationship drama to sustain any group chat for months. — Klara Auerbach, Washington Post, 11 Aug. 2026 The annual Tillman Rally has come a long way from the sweltering airport hangar where hundreds of Republican activists once crowded in with hand fans and ice-cold lemonade. — Adam Beam, AJC.com, 10 Aug. 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
  • Pyroclastic flows – fast-moving clouds of scorching gas, ash, and rock – could devastate territory near the caldera.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The event unfolded against the backdrop of scorching summer temperatures and wildfires, and Spanish officials rolled out a large public safety campaign.
    — Suman Naishadham, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of scorching
Adjective
  • The searing heat wave across Europe has driven the union to call for museums to close when temperatures reach 86 degrees Fahrenheit and to institute heat mitigation measures for back-of-house staff.
    — Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The return journey sends whatever object (or whoever's on board) through our atmosphere at searing speeds and even more searing temperatures.
    — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of searing
Verb
  • Known as the lifeblood of the Southwest, the Colorado River starts in the Rocky Mountains, fed by melting snowpack, and ends in the Gulf of California in Mexico.
    — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026
  • According to these simulations, the sample would start melting at its surfaces around 1,085°C (1,985°F).
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of melting
Adjective
  • The latest scorcher comes after Western Europe recorded its hottest June and July on record, according to Copernicus, the European Union’s climate monitor.
    — Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
  • In 2012, American entrepreneur Christopher Burch and hot-shot hotelier James McBride took over and zhuzhed it up to the tune of 30 million dollars, launching Nihi into the league of one-percenter hideaways.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of hot
Verb
  • For more than a year, an uncontrolled fire had burned in the bowels of the dump, broiling old garbage and sending nauseating fumes into nearby homes.
    — Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2026
  • Those who turn to methods like broiling and roasting when cooking will be prone to more buildup in their oven, Murphy explains, due to the way heat breaks down oil and fat.
    — Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 2 July 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
  • After a few weeks, Nikki’s acts of devotion escalate, including cooking his cat in a disturbing attempt to support his dream of becoming a food critic.
    — Kelly Allen, PEOPLE, 16 Aug. 2026
  • As the cost of groceries continues to rise, cooking in restaurants and at home has become more expensive.
    — The Deadline Team, Deadline, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of cooking

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Cite this Entry

“Sweltering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sweltering. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on sweltering

Nglish: Translation of sweltering for Spanish Speakers

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