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
Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 16 June 2026
After England completed its session in sweltering heat, Forester and his friends sat there and had several members of the English National Team sign the Declaration of Independence.
—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 15 June 2026
It’s crafted from an airy, slightly sheer linen blend that helps wick away moisture and keep you cool on sweltering days.
—Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 12 June 2026
The water-safe fabric held up without complaint through a sweltering trip to Washington, and survived the enthusiastic poolside grip of my toddler niece, who wrestled it from me while everyone was splashing around.
—Meaghan Kenny, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for sweltering
Adjective
The people who believe this, who drive for hours to watch fights on a giant TV in a sweltering public park, aren’t stupid.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 16 June 2026
After England completed its session in sweltering heat, Forester and his friends sat there and had several members of the English National Team sign the Declaration of Independence.
—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 15 June 2026
It’s crafted from an airy, slightly sheer linen blend that helps wick away moisture and keep you cool on sweltering days.
—Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 12 June 2026
The water-safe fabric held up without complaint through a sweltering trip to Washington, and survived the enthusiastic poolside grip of my toddler niece, who wrestled it from me while everyone was splashing around.
—Meaghan Kenny, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 June 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
-
France put emergency services and military forces on wildfire alert, restricted public alcohol consumption and canceled some outdoor sports events to cope with a heat wave scorching parts of Europe.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
21 June 2026
-
Backed by just a DJ (Dazedgxd, who opened the set) and a retina-scorching light rig up front, Jane acknowledged on Thursday that the stakes were getting much higher.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
Adjective
-
Crisping the perfect pizza crust on a baking steel, searing steaks on a grill, draining a pot of scalding pasta water, or pulling a hot potato from an oven—none of these are the time or place to play it fast and loose.—
Adam Campbell-Schmitt,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
17 June 2026
-
In April the hearing resumed with three searing days of testimony.—
Karen Valby,
Vanity Fair,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
Give it a beat to start melting, then stir until the cheese is fully melted and the meat is evenly coated.—
Maggie Meyer Glisan,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 June 2026
-
Wildfires, floods, melting ice caps, heat waves, the bleaching of ocean reefs.—
Steve Lopez,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
Adjective
-
An Irvine dog trainer who operated Happy K9 Academy was convicted of killing 11 dogs by keeping them in small crates in a hot van and lying to the pets’ owners about the deaths, authorities said.—
Seamus Bozeman
Follow,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
-
Oklahoma’s bats remained scorching hot, racking up 12 hits - including five more home runs - and got a quality start from freshman Nick Wesloski.—
Hunter DeLauder,
AJC.com,
18 June 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
-
In the case of the cross-burning incident, there is no comparison to the Jussie Smollett case.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
19 June 2026
-
Some people drove or walked by, staring, and a video of the cross-burning gained traction online.—
Hallie Golden,
Los Angeles Times,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
How Often To Clean A Backsplash To keep grease and food splatters from building up on your tile backsplash, wipe down the area behind your stovetop with a damp sponge after cooking a heavy meal.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
20 June 2026
-
Kids and partners can help by cooking a healthy meal for dad, trying a new recipe together each week, or swapping out one unhealthy snack for a better option.—
Jesse Pines,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sweltering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sweltering. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
