variants
or smoulder
1
as in to anger
to be excited or emotionally stirred up with anger
She smoldered when first learning of her son's misbehavior at school, but had calmed down by the time he arrived home.
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2
as in to blaze
to be on fire usually with smoke but few flames
They look forward to those long summer nights telling stories beside a smoldering campfire.
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of smolder
The tiles and artwork on the walls were smashed and smoldering, chunks still peeling away from the thankfully stubborn aerolite.
—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
26 June 2026
Hamas’ October 2023 attack on Israel – the deadliest security failure in the country’s history – sparked the war in Gaza and a multifront conflagration that still smolders almost three years later.
—
Dina Kraft,
Christian Science Monitor,
24 June 2026
In 2024, a Lineage facility in Washington state caught fire and smoldered for two months, Northwest Public Broadcasting reported.
—
Holly Yan,
CNN Money,
22 June 2026
More specifically, the ’90s chemistry queen Rene Russo, who has smoldered onscreen with everyone from Clint Eastwood and Mel Gibson to Pierce Brosnan and John Travolta.
—
Jesse Hassenger,
Entertainment Weekly,
18 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for smolder
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
26 June 2026
Hamas’ October 2023 attack on Israel – the deadliest security failure in the country’s history – sparked the war in Gaza and a multifront conflagration that still smolders almost three years later.
—
Dina Kraft,
Christian Science Monitor,
24 June 2026
In 2024, a Lineage facility in Washington state caught fire and smoldered for two months, Northwest Public Broadcasting reported.
—
Holly Yan,
CNN Money,
22 June 2026
More specifically, the ’90s chemistry queen Rene Russo, who has smoldered onscreen with everyone from Clint Eastwood and Mel Gibson to Pierce Brosnan and John Travolta.
—
Jesse Hassenger,
Entertainment Weekly,
18 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for smolder
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smolder
Verb
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The mayor floated the idea to place Williams on probation for six months, angering the city manager’s supporters in the crowd.
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All the spending on the national events angers one supervisor at a Florida airport.
Verb
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Summer hosting season means a lot more time spent occupying your outdoor space, and the best patio umbrellas meet the occasion by gently offering respite against the blazing sun.
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One more sustainable path has been blazed by such countries as the Netherlands, Ireland, Chile, Australia, and Singapore.
Verb
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The incident shut down the busy interstate for hours, snarling traffic during teh evening commute.
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The purists were always going to take issue with a Prancing Horse that had an electric powertrain instead of snarling internal combustion engine, but its unorthodox design, courtesy of Jony Ivy’s LoveFrom studio, has received just as much criticism.
Verb
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According to Smith, citizens of East Florida even burned the leaders behind the Declaration of Independence in effigy.
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For decades, oceans have acted as the planet’s main heat sink, absorbing 90% of the excess heat produced by humans burning fossil fuels.
Verb
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Marylanders settled back for a steaming celebration of America’s 194th birthday today.
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The French capital is in the midst of a heat wave — the day of the show was the city’s hottest ever June day, until Wednesday eclipsed it — and the model’s toes steamed inside the oblong footwear.
Verb
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True insanity seldom results from a huge, flaming blowout when driving.
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Footage on social media captured victims falling through flaming windows as first responders attempted to reach them.
Verb
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The encounter began when Todd and Elvia Malcolm spotted a female moose near the edge of the woods in Telos Township, Maine, and pulled over hoping to snap a photo.
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As Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy moved fluidly through a chopper at the edge of Camelback Ranch’s infield grass and made a running throw to first, his offseason work started to snap into place.
Verb
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The glowing ribbon of the Milky Way tumbles directly through this cosmic triangle before arcing towards the southern horizon, though its diffuse light will be hidden behind a veil of moonlight on the night of the full moon.
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Nobody writes a glowing reference for the person who stole their idea.
Cite this Entry
“Smolder.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smolder. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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