as in blisters
a small, inflamed swelling of the skin
the dermatologist lanced the infected boil that had formed on the patient's neck
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in steams
to be excited or emotionally stirred up with anger
the passengers were boiling when they found out the flight was delayed yet again
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of boils
Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 17 May 2026
For traditional crawfish boils, deveining is generally skipped.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 8 May 2026
The soot becomes dust that covers humans and animals, producing festering boils.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Mar. 2026
But it's very commonly associated with like seafood boils.
—Emily Elias, Bon Appetit Magazine, 4 Mar. 2026
Last year, the restaurant changed concepts to Amelies — named after Wang’s wife — continuing to offer seafood boils in tandem with new dishes.
—Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 26 Feb. 2026
This year’s options span crawfish boils, fajitas, barbecue, desserts and more, with restaurants offering watch parties, dine-in service and takeout across the city.
—Ana Khan, Houston Chronicle, 2 Feb. 2026
The party was complete with seafood boils, a brass band, and a photo booth.
—Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 27 Jan. 2026
The list of occasions can go on and on, ranging from universal (football and concerts) to local (ice fishing in northern Minnesota and crawfish boils in Baton Rouge).
—Rahul Goyal, Fortune, 12 Jan. 2026
Rick Jervis, USA Today, 13 May 2026
Once the water boils, turn off the heat, move the pan off the burner, and let the eggs sit in the hot water for 10 minutes.
—Maddie Topliff, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Apr. 2026
As soon as water boils, turn off heat; cover saucepan, and let stand for 12 minutes.
—Jasmine Smith, Southern Living, 11 Apr. 2026
These boils impact the Egyptians and even Pharaoh’s magicians.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Mar. 2026
Northern Wisconsin roads break up in spring, when frost literally boils out of the ground.
—Dave Duffey, Outdoor Life, 26 Mar. 2026
The southern gothic The Heart, She Holler takes the convoluted elements of a soap opera — torrid affairs, small-town corruption, arbitrary plot twists — and boils them down alongside a heavy dose of gross-out surrealism to fit into 11-minute installments.
—Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2026
Bobbi boils with resentment and shame when Recife’s crooked police chief undermines his masculinity.
—Michael Snyder, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2026
Charleston has also earned a national reputation for its cuisine, with restaurants, such as Hyman’s Seafood and Magnolias, serving classic dishes like shrimp-n-grits, red rice, and Lowcountry boils.
—Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 12 Mar. 2026
Noun
Bonds are tested and betrayal boils.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 17 May 2026
For traditional crawfish boils, deveining is generally skipped.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 8 May 2026
The soot becomes dust that covers humans and animals, producing festering boils.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Mar. 2026
But it's very commonly associated with like seafood boils.
—Emily Elias, Bon Appetit Magazine, 4 Mar. 2026
Last year, the restaurant changed concepts to Amelies — named after Wang’s wife — continuing to offer seafood boils in tandem with new dishes.
—Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 26 Feb. 2026
This year’s options span crawfish boils, fajitas, barbecue, desserts and more, with restaurants offering watch parties, dine-in service and takeout across the city.
—Ana Khan, Houston Chronicle, 2 Feb. 2026
The party was complete with seafood boils, a brass band, and a photo booth.
—Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 27 Jan. 2026
The list of occasions can go on and on, ranging from universal (football and concerts) to local (ice fishing in northern Minnesota and crawfish boils in Baton Rouge).
—Rahul Goyal, Fortune, 12 Jan. 2026
Verb
His weight fluctuated and boils broke out under his arms and along his neck, said Ramos, who frequently speaks with Castillo and Otero via phone.
—Rick Jervis, USA Today, 13 May 2026
Once the water boils, turn off the heat, move the pan off the burner, and let the eggs sit in the hot water for 10 minutes.
—Maddie Topliff, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Apr. 2026
As soon as water boils, turn off heat; cover saucepan, and let stand for 12 minutes.
—Jasmine Smith, Southern Living, 11 Apr. 2026
These boils impact the Egyptians and even Pharaoh’s magicians.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Mar. 2026
Northern Wisconsin roads break up in spring, when frost literally boils out of the ground.
—Dave Duffey, Outdoor Life, 26 Mar. 2026
The southern gothic The Heart, She Holler takes the convoluted elements of a soap opera — torrid affairs, small-town corruption, arbitrary plot twists — and boils them down alongside a heavy dose of gross-out surrealism to fit into 11-minute installments.
—Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2026
Bobbi boils with resentment and shame when Recife’s crooked police chief undermines his masculinity.
—Michael Snyder, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2026
Charleston has also earned a national reputation for its cuisine, with restaurants, such as Hyman’s Seafood and Magnolias, serving classic dishes like shrimp-n-grits, red rice, and Lowcountry boils.
—Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 12 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for boils
Verb
-
During that time, the steak essentially steams.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
15 May 2026
-
This all comes as the legal fight over the audit steams ahead, over 15 months after 72% of the state signed off on the ballot measure.—
Lance Reynolds,
Boston Herald,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Other cast members include sous chef Alesia Harris, who returned from Season 3, stews Jenna Woudberg and Joe Caron, deckhands Eddy Hounsell and Betul Yazici, and deck/stew Mike Durrant.—
Jason Pham,
StyleCaster,
2 Feb. 2026
-
Droves of Amazon shoppers are also going after this Crock-Pot lunchbox that makes reheating winter soups and stews a breeze at work, as well as this Lego poinsettia that serves as a fun, interactive gift and transforms into decor once it’s built.—
Clara McMahon,
PEOPLE,
20 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Fashion month and awards season may have drawn to a close, but the global cultural calendar churns on.—
Mahoro Seward,
Vogue,
25 Mar. 2026
-
As the song churns on, the focus narrows in on West until everything else falls away.—
Jayson Greene,
Pitchfork,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In animals, the bacterium causes pustules and lesions, predominantly in cattle, sheep, and horses.—
Helen Branswell,
STAT,
11 May 2026
-
In fact, one of the most common triggers of rosacea, which is characterized by flushing, swelling, spider veins, papules, and pustules, is exposure to sunlight.—
Sherri Gordon,
Health,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The Sandy Fire rages on a hill behind houses at a residential area in Simi Valley, California, on May 18, 2026.—
Chelsea Hylton,
CBS News,
19 May 2026
-
As the war [by Russia in Ukraine] rages on, Sakha culture is increasingly reaching beyond its borders and building new connections with the East.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
Chop up your favorite toppings while the chili simmers on the stove.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Black lives don’t matter in Warwick Thornton’s fiercely original outback Western Wolfram, a surprisingly emotional genre piece that simmers with menace and doesn’t let up until the bloody finale.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
To load the product onto the brush, Barnes swirls the tool into the pan twice and taps it twice to prevent fallout.—
Jenny Berg,
Vogue,
12 Dec. 2025
-
The lights are dim and jazzy music swirls the intimate crowd.—
Sofia Celeste,
Footwear News,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Initial staph symptoms include skin reactions resembling pimples, boils or other conditions.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
13 May 2026
-
Pain That Feels Disproportionate HS lesions are often deeper and more painful than typical pimples or ingrown hairs.—
Lauryn Higgins,
Flow Space,
6 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Boils.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/boils. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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