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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of smolder
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
Taron Egerton and Jurnee Smollett star in Smoke, with their smoldering relationship taking centre stage.
—Griff Griffin, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 June 2025
Where my body flared like a window, then smoldered like stone, ivy
flickers.
—Esther Lin, The New York Review of Books, 26 June 2025
Investigators were still working to determine the cause and firefighters were monitoring the situation for flare-ups from hot spots that continued to smolder around midday Tuesday, according to fire department spokesperson Craig Trojacek.
—Cody Copeland, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for smolder
Valerie Mesa, People.com, 13 June 2025
Taron Egerton and Jurnee Smollett star in Smoke, with their smoldering relationship taking centre stage.
—Griff Griffin, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 June 2025
Where my body flared like a window, then smoldered like stone, ivy
flickers.
—Esther Lin, The New York Review of Books, 26 June 2025
Investigators were still working to determine the cause and firefighters were monitoring the situation for flare-ups from hot spots that continued to smolder around midday Tuesday, according to fire department spokesperson Craig Trojacek.
—Cody Copeland, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for smolder
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smolder
Verb
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Topline Attorney General Pam Bondi has become the chief lightning rod for those on the right angered by the Department of Justice’s lack of new information regarding disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein—a subject of extensive right-wing conspiracies—with some calling for her firing.—
Sara Dorn,
Forbes.com,
9 July 2025
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But many of the Blues’ outings have been unpleasant because of high temperatures and storms, and six games across the tournament have been paused for poor weather conditions, angering manager Enzo Maresca.—
Dan Bernstein,
Sportico.com,
8 July 2025
Verb
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On July 3, Ventura County firefighters responded to a blazing home after fireworks exploded in the home’s garage, according to a news release by the Simi Valley Police Department.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
5 July 2025
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The Marcus King Band brought the sun down on night one of 2025 with a touch tribute to Beach Boys founder Brian Wilson, some blazing guitar work, a pack of new songs and a little secret.—
Melonee Hurt,
The Tennessean,
2 July 2025
Verb
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That took on new relevance during the pandemic, which snarled global supply chains, contributing to shortages of products such as face masks and respirators in the US and elsewhere.—
Olesya Dmitracova,
CNN Money,
9 July 2025
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All lanes of Interstate 70 have reopened hours after a fiery, fatal crash involving multiple vehicles snarled traffic in the mountains.—
Elizabeth Hernandez,
Denver Post,
3 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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They’re laid flat on racks, then steamed in the oven.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 July 2025
-
Acorn squash can be baked, roasted, or steamed for a tasty side dish.—
Jillian Kubala,
Health,
3 July 2025
Verb
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Someone cut a hole in the canvas top and dumped a Molotov cocktail into its soon flaming red interior.—
Marco della Cava,
USA Today,
3 July 2025
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While his bandmates pranced around the stage with black dildos bobbing from their noses and top hats jauntily cocked, Forrest would open the show in a Joker-esque getup, holding a flaming Bible.—
Brenna Ehrlich,
Rolling Stone,
8 June 2025
Verb
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The following day, Trump snapped at a reporter who asked him and Attorney General Pam Bondi for more information on the report.—
Meredith Kile,
People.com,
14 July 2025
-
Prince mingled with Lee Iacocca and James Carville as Annie Leibovitz snapped photos.—
Michael Grynbaum,
HollywoodReporter,
14 July 2025
Verb
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Her primary function seems to be solely to wear a tight, glowing suit and look concerned.—
Jordan Hoffman,
EW.com,
9 July 2025
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Bio-Oil has also received glowing reviews from more than one mama.—
Erin Bunch,
Glamour,
9 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Smolder.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smolder. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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