1
as in glows
to be on fire especially brightly
all evening long we just sat there, contentedly watching the Yule log burn
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in scorches
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 steams
to be excited or emotionally stirred up with anger
he came home burning with anger because of a reprimand at work
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in flames
to shine with a bright harsh light
the bright streetlight outside our motel room burned all night long
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in deceives
to cause to believe what is untrue
he's been burned before, so he's careful to double-check such claims now
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in consumes
to make complete use of
heedlessly burning the country's resources without any concern for future generations
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in brooks
a natural body of running water smaller than a river
the walkers forded the shallow burn and then came upon a field of gorse
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of burns
Kaelyn Lynch, Outside, 23 Jan. 2026
According to Amnesty International, Israel used white phosphorus, a highly reactive chemical that burns at extremely high temperatures when exposed to air.
—Josiane Yazbeck, The Conversation, 22 Jan. 2026
But if Broncos head coach Sean Payton, a future Hall of Famer and offensive whiz, burns that blitz early, Maye and the offense must patch a few holes the Texans exploited in order to play catch-up.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 20 Jan. 2026
Anything that burns fuel needs to be properly ventilated and inspected regularly, and never operate a fuel-burning device inside your home unless it was designed for interior use.
—Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 20 Jan. 2026
Suddenly, Joan burns to be one of the few people to go to space.
—Kaycee Sloan, Cincinnati Enquirer, 16 Jan. 2026
Your light burns so bright in all our hearts!
—Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 11 Jan. 2026
Your light burns so bright in all our hearts!
—Alex Heigl, PEOPLE, 10 Jan. 2026
Oil splatters can leave a residue that burns onto the stovetop.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 7 Jan. 2026
CBS News, 31 Jan. 2026
The delivery of cytokines can stimulate the white blood cell production that is damaged by exposure; treatment with potassium iodide or Prussian blue can help eliminate radioactive particles from the body; and proper washing can prevent skin burns that might take days to show up.
—New Atlas, 28 Jan. 2026
The water reportedly caused an allegoric reaction and severe burns to the detainee’s throat and nasal passages.
—Lautaro Grinspan, AJC.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Many current and planned lunar landers rely on propellants that produce methane as a byproduct during the engine burns required to slow a spacecraft for touchdown.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Two people suffered burns during a house fire in Milford on Sunday.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 26 Jan. 2026
Reducing it all to rubble can frustrate, yes, but those burns leave a mark.
—Blake Simons, IndieWire, 26 Jan. 2026
Medics rushed a 37-year-old woman in critical but stable condition to Jacobi Medical Center, where she is being treated for burns, according to police.
—Theodore Parisienne, New York Daily News, 25 Jan. 2026
Fire managers carefully monitor prescribed burns and will plan to conduct activities during safest possible burn windows.
—Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 9 Jan. 2026
Verb
Your body burns additional calories in the cold from shivering.
—Kaelyn Lynch, Outside, 23 Jan. 2026
According to Amnesty International, Israel used white phosphorus, a highly reactive chemical that burns at extremely high temperatures when exposed to air.
—Josiane Yazbeck, The Conversation, 22 Jan. 2026
But if Broncos head coach Sean Payton, a future Hall of Famer and offensive whiz, burns that blitz early, Maye and the offense must patch a few holes the Texans exploited in order to play catch-up.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 20 Jan. 2026
Anything that burns fuel needs to be properly ventilated and inspected regularly, and never operate a fuel-burning device inside your home unless it was designed for interior use.
—Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 20 Jan. 2026
Suddenly, Joan burns to be one of the few people to go to space.
—Kaycee Sloan, Cincinnati Enquirer, 16 Jan. 2026
Your light burns so bright in all our hearts!
—Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 11 Jan. 2026
Your light burns so bright in all our hearts!
—Alex Heigl, PEOPLE, 10 Jan. 2026
Oil splatters can leave a residue that burns onto the stovetop.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 7 Jan. 2026
Noun
Vitini Rammin, director of the Trauma and Burn Program at HCA Florida Kendall Hospital, said Santiago suffered second- and third-degree burns to about 18% of his body.
—CBS News, 31 Jan. 2026
The delivery of cytokines can stimulate the white blood cell production that is damaged by exposure; treatment with potassium iodide or Prussian blue can help eliminate radioactive particles from the body; and proper washing can prevent skin burns that might take days to show up.
—New Atlas, 28 Jan. 2026
The water reportedly caused an allegoric reaction and severe burns to the detainee’s throat and nasal passages.
—Lautaro Grinspan, AJC.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Many current and planned lunar landers rely on propellants that produce methane as a byproduct during the engine burns required to slow a spacecraft for touchdown.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Two people suffered burns during a house fire in Milford on Sunday.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 26 Jan. 2026
Reducing it all to rubble can frustrate, yes, but those burns leave a mark.
—Blake Simons, IndieWire, 26 Jan. 2026
Medics rushed a 37-year-old woman in critical but stable condition to Jacobi Medical Center, where she is being treated for burns, according to police.
—Theodore Parisienne, New York Daily News, 25 Jan. 2026
Fire managers carefully monitor prescribed burns and will plan to conduct activities during safest possible burn windows.
—Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 9 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burns
Verb
-
The video shared on Instagram shows vehicles parked on the Margaret McDermott Bridge as the countdown at Reunion Tower glows in the background.—
Timia Cobb
Breaking News Reporter,
Dallas Morning News,
29 Jan. 2026
-
To complete the warm golden hues, the automatic movement is topped with a 22-karat gold rotor, which glows through the caseback.—
Carol Besler,
Forbes.com,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
As the world around them scorches under record heat, a family walks into the woods, asking what the future holds in this thermal dystopia.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
14 Jan. 2026
-
That’s the difference between fury that scorches everything in sight and anger that fuels justice.—
Marc Brackett,
Time,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Then, Lim steams the breastmilk in an espresso machine before adding the matcha into the drink.—
Hannah Sacks,
PEOPLE,
15 Jan. 2026
-
Humidity often corrodes cables and steams camera lenses.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
In a statement issued Friday, the commission accused X of using its 'blue checkmark' in a way that deceives users.—
Mary Cunningham,
CBS News,
5 Dec. 2025
-
The fragmentary Ni 12501 tablet from the Early Dynastic III period of Mesopotamia breaks off when Fox deceives the inhabitants of the netherworld in his quest to retrieve the storm god Ishkur.—
Rafil Kroll-Zaidi,
Harpers Magazine,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Explaining how a system works consumes attention that customers cannot spare.—
Alexander Puutio,
Forbes.com,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Owing to this, cornstarch production also consumes vast amounts of water and relies heavily on the use of fertilizers and pesticides.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The property, which features lush greenery and old-growth trees set among babbling brooks and water features, is open to the public, and the gardens have served as a popular spot for weddings over the decades in addition to an annual Mother’s Day tea that Weston said attracts hundreds each year.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Many of these parcels have elements like oak woodlands, meadows, brooks and rivers that create cooler, wetter areas that help plants and animals endure wildfires or periods of extreme heat or drought.—
Beth Rose Middleton Manning,
The Conversation,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Under California law, most of those payments, as well as the lawsuit settlements, are expected to be covered by a state wildfire fund that lawmakers created to shield the three biggest for-profit utilities from bankruptcy if their equipment ignites a catastrophic fire.—
Melody Petersen,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Think again, as the California Zephyr, the longest route in America crosses through seven states, carving up Colorado’s canyons, then passing into Utah where the sun ignites mesas into flaming towers of rock.—
Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
To this day, the wave of violence rages on in Sinaloa and other states where the cartel has influence.—
Gonzalo Zegarra,
CNN Money,
26 Jan. 2026
-
War rages on The election has been widely dismissed by international observers and governments as illegitimate.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
23 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Burns.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burns. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
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