boils 1 of 2

Definition of boilsnext
plural of boil
as in blisters
a small, inflamed swelling of the skin the dermatologist lanced the infected boil that had formed on the patient's neck

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boils

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of boil
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

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2
as in stews
to cook in a liquid heated to the point that it gives off steam boil the potatoes until they are tender before you try to mash them

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3
as in churns
to be in a state of violent rolling motion the sea boiled and frothed during the storm

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of boils
Noun
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 Dining at the luxury resort includes 10 on-site options ranging from COAST’s fine dining to lobster boils, casual beach fare and champagne bars. Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 6 Dec. 2025 Baker inquires about the design of the hunchback and hovers his hand above her bulbous boils. J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 26 Sep. 2025 Those include fish boils, something usually associated with Wisconsin’s Door County. Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2025 Bathing daily and keeping your buttocks clean and dry can help prevent boils, folliculitis, and other skin conditions. Sherri Gordon, Health, 14 Aug. 2025
Verb
Its carbon steel boils water quickly, while retaining heat. Isabel Garcia, PEOPLE, 10 Jan. 2026 Keep in mind that a covered pot boils faster than an uncovered one. Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 8 Jan. 2026 Shop our top picks below from $13 with everything from reusable overnight oats jars to portable salad jars for lunch, an electric kettle that boils water in minutes, and a multipurpose air fryer that doubles as a storage solution for leftovers. Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 7 Jan. 2026 Upstairs, a 2,000-square-foot roof deck hosts crawfish boils and live bands in the warmer months. AFAR Media, 30 Dec. 2025 Sand boils form when flowing water contained by a levee pushes down on soil inside the levee with enough force to move water through its interior. Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 23 Dec. 2025 Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and boils. Kelly Brant, Arkansas Online, 16 Dec. 2025 Longer-term, Indomo seeks to tackle conditions including keloids, boils and more via its ClearPen technology. Noor Lobad, Footwear News, 29 Oct. 2025 Gretchen is just as bad as Tamra, two boils on the same hairy ass. Brian Moylan, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for boils
Verb
  • Nothing steams football fans quite like NBC Sports broadcaster Cris Collinsworth praising Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
    Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 6 Feb. 2026
  • Then, Lim steams the breastmilk in an espresso machine before adding the matcha into the drink.
    Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 15 Jan. 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
  • Its back is a row of shields and churns the oceans to a frothing boil.
    Big Think, Big Think, 5 Feb. 2026
  • Harris is one of tens of thousands of Americans killed or injured each year by gun violence, a public health crisis that escalated in the pandemic and churns a new victim into a hospital emergency room every half hour.
    Fred Clasen-Kelly, USA Today, 19 Dec. 2025
Noun
  • 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
  • Research suggests that pimple patches aren't effective on cystic acne, pustules, or blackheads.
    Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Fighting rages on Since the RSF overran el-Fasher, which had been one of the army’s last strongholds in Darfur, fighting has recently concentrated in various areas of Kordofan.
    Noha Elhennawy, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
  • New York City faces budget hardships, an affordability crisis that rages on, and an urgent need for government to deliver.
    Zohran Mamdani, Washington Post, 5 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Every interaction simmers with tension, but that deafening silence and psychological intensity is the heart of the series.
    Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 3 Feb. 2026
  • The chicken is perfectly cooked and seasoned by the sticky sweet sauce that simmers over it.
    Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 25 Dec. 2025
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
  • Bioré is putting pimples in the penalty box this basketball season.
    Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 29 Jan. 2026
  • Here, argon-gas electrodes create a gentle current at up to 60 Hz, which helps to reduce the look of active pimples, calm visible redness, and even address the appearance of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
    Deanna Pai, Vogue, 20 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Boils.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/boils. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

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