variants
or smoulder
smoldered or smouldered; smoldering or smouldering
ˈsmōl-d(ə-)riŋ 
1
a
: to burn sluggishly, without flame, and often with much smoke
b
: to be consumed by smoldering
—often used with out
2
: to exist in a state of suppressed activity
hostilities smoldered for years
3
: to show suppressed anger, hate, or jealousy
eyes smoldering with hate
Examples of smolder in a Sentence
The remains of the campfire smoldered.
Her eyes smoldered with anger.
Anger smoldered in my heart.
Recent Examples on the Web
Sink stars as Shelby, a smoldering outcast amongst her classmates who isn’t afraid to speak truth to power.
—
Emlyn Travis, EW.com, 15 Apr. 2025
Scorpio: Wilhelmina Slater Ruthless and hyper-focused on taking the throne as editor-in-chief of Mode, Wilhelmina's intense ambition, strategic mind and transformative journey of highs and lows reflect the essence of smoldering Scorpio.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 14 Apr. 2025
Under the glare of the desert floodlights, a title fight that has been quietly smoldering since Melbourne has now erupted into an open flame.
—Kanzah Maktoum, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
This spaceflight feels like a training mission for the billionaire fantasy of escaping Earth’s smoldering husk.
—Amanda Hess, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for smolder
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Emlyn Travis, EW.com, 15 Apr. 2025
Scorpio: Wilhelmina Slater Ruthless and hyper-focused on taking the throne as editor-in-chief of Mode, Wilhelmina's intense ambition, strategic mind and transformative journey of highs and lows reflect the essence of smoldering Scorpio.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 14 Apr. 2025
Under the glare of the desert floodlights, a title fight that has been quietly smoldering since Melbourne has now erupted into an open flame.
—Kanzah Maktoum, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
This spaceflight feels like a training mission for the billionaire fantasy of escaping Earth’s smoldering husk.
—Amanda Hess, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for smolder
Cite this Entry
“Smolder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/smolder. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.
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