as in splashing
to flow in a broken irregular stream
the soapy water bubbled down the drain
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Recent Examples of bubbling
For an extra crispy top, turn oven to broil, sprinkle casserole with a little grated Parmesan and broil 5 inches from heat until casserole is bubbling and golden, about 1 minute.
—
Gretchen McKay, Twin Cities, 11 Feb. 2026
Just keep in mind that the interior maternity ward rooms sitting around the courtyard are privy to some noise bubbling up from the restaurant below, though only the lightest of sleepers are likely to notice.
—Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Feb. 2026
The urge to tame big corporate landlords is bubbling over among locals in woodsy Paulding County, Georgia, an Atlanta exurb where church steeples and old graveyards punctuate the rolling hills, and an 18-foot fiberglass Wonder Woman waves at drivers.
—Bloomberg, Oc Register, 10 Feb. 2026
The camera lingers on dripping egg yolks and squishy, bubbling dough; the protagonist, Cathy Earnshaw (played by Margot Robbie), must wade through pig’s blood on her way to the moors near her home, leaving a trim of viscera on her gorgeously anachronistic dress.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 9 Feb. 2026
Spills, crumbs, and grease from splattering casseroles and bubbling pies can make a mess of your oven, and the oven racks aren’t spared from the turmoil.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 6 Feb. 2026
Paint may not adhere well without extensive sanding and priming, which can lead to bubbling and peeling, explains designer Danielle Chiprut.
—Asia London Palomba, The Spruce, 5 Feb. 2026
Couples dance on the grass while chefs across the park tend bubbling pots of jambalaya and gumbo.
—Phil Thomas, Travel + Leisure, 1 Feb. 2026
Catherine was the queen of self-abusing, hard-living, and heading-over-the-hill entertainment veterans — women who were trapped behind a façade of slick showbiz tics that barely covered the active volcano of psychosis bubbling right under their surface.
—Merrill Markoe, Rolling Stone, 1 Feb. 2026
Gretchen McKay, Twin Cities, 11 Feb. 2026
Just keep in mind that the interior maternity ward rooms sitting around the courtyard are privy to some noise bubbling up from the restaurant below, though only the lightest of sleepers are likely to notice.
—Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Feb. 2026
The urge to tame big corporate landlords is bubbling over among locals in woodsy Paulding County, Georgia, an Atlanta exurb where church steeples and old graveyards punctuate the rolling hills, and an 18-foot fiberglass Wonder Woman waves at drivers.
—Bloomberg, Oc Register, 10 Feb. 2026
The camera lingers on dripping egg yolks and squishy, bubbling dough; the protagonist, Cathy Earnshaw (played by Margot Robbie), must wade through pig’s blood on her way to the moors near her home, leaving a trim of viscera on her gorgeously anachronistic dress.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 9 Feb. 2026
Spills, crumbs, and grease from splattering casseroles and bubbling pies can make a mess of your oven, and the oven racks aren’t spared from the turmoil.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 6 Feb. 2026
Paint may not adhere well without extensive sanding and priming, which can lead to bubbling and peeling, explains designer Danielle Chiprut.
—Asia London Palomba, The Spruce, 5 Feb. 2026
Couples dance on the grass while chefs across the park tend bubbling pots of jambalaya and gumbo.
—Phil Thomas, Travel + Leisure, 1 Feb. 2026
Catherine was the queen of self-abusing, hard-living, and heading-over-the-hill entertainment veterans — women who were trapped behind a façade of slick showbiz tics that barely covered the active volcano of psychosis bubbling right under their surface.
—Merrill Markoe, Rolling Stone, 1 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bubbling
Verb
-
Water splashing up from the ground gets the wood closest to the ground very wet.—
Tim Carter,
Hartford Courant,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Pour the bleach into the water, not the other way around, to avoid splashing the bleach.—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Wash Delicates Keep delicates separate from other garments by washing them in old pillowcases.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
14 Feb. 2026
-
The method was also easier than washing and drying grapes before storage, and a brief rinse before eating removed any trace of vinegar flavor.—
Alma Avalle,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Medel wedged himself through the strands and handed empty fertilizer bags dripping blue liquid out to Gabriel.—
Rachel Becker,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Feb. 2026
-
Cue a thunderclap and a statue of Jesus dripping a tear of blood.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The Egg Nebula, so-named for its yolk (the star) surrounded by egg white (clouds of dust and gas), is extraordinarily dynamic, with twin beams of light punching through a series of rippling arcs.—
Stefanie Waldek,
Space.com,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The fallout from the Jeffrey Epstein saga is rippling through Europe.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
From the mud baths of Lo Specchio di Venere to Bagno Ascuitto’s hot-steam grotto, Pantelleria’s fringes constitute a natural spa with gurgling thermal waters.—
Rosalyn Wikeley,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Some common sounds include gurgling, banging, and clanging coming from the pipes.—
Hallie Milstein,
Southern Living,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Invites have already begun trickling in for the Freehand this season (Sivan will show there on Sunday), and more will surely follow.—
Kelsey Stiegman,
Condé Nast Traveler,
9 Feb. 2026
-
All the old emotions came trickling back.—
Zak Keefer,
New York Times,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Gas and dust swirling around a black hole block visible light, but infrared light can punch right through.—
Paul Sutter,
Space.com,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Even so, rumors have begun swirling that the rapper has gotten back together with his ex-girlfriend Gabriela Berlingeri.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Glamour,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bubbling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bubbling. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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