variants
or smoulder
1
as in to anger
to be excited or emotionally stirred up with anger
She smoldered when first learning of her son's misbehavior at school, but had calmed down by the time he arrived home.
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2
as in to blaze
to be on fire usually with smoke but few flames
They look forward to those long summer nights telling stories beside a smoldering campfire.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of smolder
Officials stayed at the scene to contain smoldering hot spots hours after the blaze was extinguished.
—
Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 2 July 2025
The influence of that album—and its smoldering 2017 follow-up, Melodrama—still shapes the work of Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo, and even Taylor Swift.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 27 June 2025
The doctor gestured to a low bench near the smoldering hearth.
—Literary Hub, 26 June 2025
Scorpio: Mal, Descendants Cunning and strategic, Mal’s smoldering essence and power are strongly influenced by her mother, Maleficent.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for smolder
Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 2 July 2025
The influence of that album—and its smoldering 2017 follow-up, Melodrama—still shapes the work of Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo, and even Taylor Swift.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 27 June 2025
The doctor gestured to a low bench near the smoldering hearth.
—Literary Hub, 26 June 2025
Scorpio: Mal, Descendants Cunning and strategic, Mal’s smoldering essence and power are strongly influenced by her mother, Maleficent.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for smolder
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smolder
Verb
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The group invited those angered by rollbacks on things such as voting rights, essential services and free speech to join them July 17, the fifth anniversary of Lewis’ death.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
17 July 2025
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Bondi has become a target for Trump’s supporters angered by the DOJ’s decision not to release the files, with some calling for her ouster.—
Sara Dorn,
Forbes.com,
16 July 2025
Verb
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The Perfect Warm-Up: Ezra Collective Brings the Fire Brit Award and Mercury Prize winning British band Ezra Collective set the stage for Stevie Wonder with an energy-filled, all guns blazing performance full of magical keys, sublime saxophone and dazzling drumming.—
Lee Sharrock,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
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Minutes later, all firefighters had been ordered out of the blazing building as well, the department said.—
Grace Zokovitch,
Boston Herald,
13 July 2025
Verb
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Earlier Thursday, the controversy over the Epstein files had snarled the House’s efforts to pass a bill that claws back $9.4 billion in federal spending, as Democrats used procedural moves to force votes on releasing the documents in tandem with the package.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
18 July 2025
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The early-morning crash snarled traffic on the bridge, which has two four-lane spans and connects Delaware and New Jersey.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
12 July 2025
Verb
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The pair, who met as college undergrads, both burned with idealism and recognized their privilege could be leveraged for a game-changing idea.—
Carole Horst,
Variety,
13 Sep. 2023
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The Ellen MacArthur Foundation promotes circular fashion and says that, in the United States, an amount of clothing equal to a garbage truck is ferried to landfills or burned every second.—
Neeti Mehra,
Treehugger,
13 Sep. 2023
Verb
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After the rice has steamed, fluff it gently with a fork to separate the grains.—
Robin Miller,
AZCentral.com,
17 July 2025
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There are several ways to prepare peas, including boiling, roasting, sautéing, microwaving, air frying, or steaming.—
Julie Marks,
Verywell Health,
10 July 2025
Verb
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Chicago Cubs almost certainly remember Anthony Rizzo's flaming hot streak in the leadoff spot in the order.—
Andrew Wright,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 July 2025
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Take the flaming Baller Colada (served in a pineapple) from a menu that unfolds like an amusement park map.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
11 July 2025
Verb
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After shopping, snap some pics of the charming Danish architecture and stop by Ostrichland USA to feed emus and ostrich on your way out of town.—
Cu Fleshman,
Travel + Leisure,
26 July 2025
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Setup is fast too, thanks to the auto-focus feature that snaps the image into clarity without any hassle.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
25 July 2025
Verb
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Its historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, glows with buildings carved from Villamayor sandstone that shimmer like honey under the basking Castilian rays.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
21 July 2025
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Its tools have been quirky designs and glowing lights, along with a focus on markets outside the US.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
18 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Smolder.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smolder. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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