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
Nevertheless, a smoldering cloud hangs over this year’s awards season.
—
Michael Schulman, The New Yorker, 22 Jan. 2025
Looking around the smoldering grounds where she was baptized as a baby and now volunteers in the gardening department, Gabriella, 20, resisted the urge to fall to her knees in despair.
—Deborah Netburn, Los Angeles Times, 19 Jan. 2025
The flames continued to flare through Thursday and smoldered into Friday.
—Kate Bradshaw, The Mercury News, 18 Jan. 2025
Fun fact: According to the Indianapolis Star, fire reports at the time blamed the blaze on a pigeon that picked up a smoldering cigarette butt and dropped it on the building.
—Justin L. MacK, Axios, 15 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for smolder 
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Michael Schulman, The New Yorker, 22 Jan. 2025
Looking around the smoldering grounds where she was baptized as a baby and now volunteers in the gardening department, Gabriella, 20, resisted the urge to fall to her knees in despair.
—Deborah Netburn, Los Angeles Times, 19 Jan. 2025
The flames continued to flare through Thursday and smoldered into Friday.
—Kate Bradshaw, The Mercury News, 18 Jan. 2025
Fun fact: According to the Indianapolis Star, fire reports at the time blamed the blaze on a pigeon that picked up a smoldering cigarette butt and dropped it on the building.
—Justin L. MacK, Axios, 15 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for smolder
Dictionary Entries Near smolder
Cite this Entry
“Smolder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/smolder. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025.
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