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
Our own sun will experience this latter transformation in around six billion years after shedding most of its mass during a swollen red giant phase, eventually sputtering out as a smoldering stellar ember.
—
Robert Lea, Space.com, 12 June 2025
Overwintering fires continue through winter by smoldering in forest duff and peat underground, only to start up again in the spring.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 12 June 2025
Each person’s pain is just one spark that can smolder into a wildfire that erodes the very foundations of society.
—Tima Bansal, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
Debris from the aircraft was seen strewn along a nearby road and several other cars on the road were also charred and mangled and could be seen still smoldering hours later as the morning sky brightened.
—Michael Dorgan , Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for smolder
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Robert Lea, Space.com, 12 June 2025
Overwintering fires continue through winter by smoldering in forest duff and peat underground, only to start up again in the spring.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 12 June 2025
Each person’s pain is just one spark that can smolder into a wildfire that erodes the very foundations of society.
—Tima Bansal, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
Debris from the aircraft was seen strewn along a nearby road and several other cars on the road were also charred and mangled and could be seen still smoldering hours later as the morning sky brightened.
—Michael Dorgan , Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 22 May 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 20 Jun. 2025.
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