1
as in to glow
to be on fire especially brightly
all evening long we just sat there, contentedly watching the Yule log burn
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2
as in to scorch
to set (something) on fire
it is not a good idea to try to burn old papers in the sink
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to steam
to be excited or emotionally stirred up with anger
he came home burning with anger because of a reprimand at work
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4
as in to flame
to shine with a bright harsh light
the bright streetlight outside our motel room burned all night long
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5
as in to deceive
to cause to believe what is untrue
he's been burned before, so he's careful to double-check such claims now
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in to consume
to make complete use of
heedlessly burning the country's resources without any concern for future generations
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in brook
a natural body of running water smaller than a river
the walkers forded the shallow burn and then came upon a field of gorse
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of burn
Courtland Milloy, Washington Post, 12 Sep. 2023
William Lucas, 8, survived after Tonya Lucas’ boyfriend at the time rescued him from the burning home.
—Alex Mann, Baltimore Sun, 12 Sep. 2023
David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 23 Apr. 2025
Even today, Kaplan is finding new uses for silk at the Kaplan Lab, testing the success of tiny silk particles as drug delivery systems and of transportable silk sprays as treatments for burns.
—Amy Paturel, Discover Magazine, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for burn
Verb
Such interactions can light a fuse that may burn throughout a school year, only to erupt when students arrive for a new semester driving their parents’ car.
—Courtland Milloy, Washington Post, 12 Sep. 2023
William Lucas, 8, survived after Tonya Lucas’ boyfriend at the time rescued him from the burning home.
—Alex Mann, Baltimore Sun, 12 Sep. 2023
Noun
The woman was then flown to Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami to be treated for extreme burns, said Guzman.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 23 Apr. 2025
Even today, Kaplan is finding new uses for silk at the Kaplan Lab, testing the success of tiny silk particles as drug delivery systems and of transportable silk sprays as treatments for burns.
—Amy Paturel, Discover Magazine, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for burn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burn
Verb
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Over 12,000 glowing Amazon ratings back up the hype.—
Becca Blond,
Travel + Leisure,
13 Apr. 2025
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Trump’s physical on Friday was conducted at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, and his team promised glowing results.—
Haisten Willis,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Herro’s scorching shooting continued in the second quarter, finishing the first half with 23 points on perfect 8-of-8 shooting from the field, 3-of-3 shooting on threes and 4-of-4 shooting from the foul line.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
17 Apr. 2025
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Temperatures are warm but not yet scorching—perfect for hiking.—
Arick Wierson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The conventional exploits are paced with tasty visual surprises (a steaming roast chicken, a succulent pork chop).—
Armond White,
National Review,
16 Apr. 2025
-
The eager anticipation was for a hot spot that’s steaming all day.—
Jonathan Thompson,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Comments Danny McBride, do not step on that flaming bag on your doorstep.—
Ryan Coleman,
EW.com,
21 Mar. 2025
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Afterward, the Chicago artist flamed Pusha T, Ty Dolla $ign, Travis Scott, and even the late Virgil Abloh — including pictures to accompany the rant.—
Marc Griffin,
VIBE.com,
18 Mar. 2025
Verb
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But as, as the brilliant evolutionary psychologist Geoffrey Miller notes, our capacities to judge competence have evolved, so too have our capacities to deceive others about it.—
Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2025
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And Ken claims to be a man of faith but uses fake Uber accounts to meet his girlfriend and deceive his family.—
Raja Krishnamoorthi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Crews also conduct test burns before igniting a larger area, to verify how effectively fuels are consumed and how smoke will travel.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
21 Apr. 2025
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Nor could the authors conclude definitively that the chimps were deliberately consuming ethanol-rich fruits and sharing it with their compatriots.—
Jennifer Ouellette,
ArsTechnica,
21 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The 1851-52 painting by John Everett Millais is one of the most popular renderings of Ophelia's death, which depicts her lying, almost peacefully, among flowers in a brook.—
Audrey Gibbs,
USA Today,
8 Apr. 2025
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The mass-participation ball game involves two teams, whose players are decided according to which side of the town's small brook they were born on.—
Alan Taylor,
The Atlantic,
7 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Hairston blazed a ridiculous 4.28-second 40-yard dash at the NFL combine and has legit outside-corner athleticism.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
16 Apr. 2025
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The man said his condition has improved significantly since he was found inside a blazing home on Feb. 17.—
Joseph Wilkinson,
New York Daily News,
15 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Burn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burn. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
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