variants
or smoulder
smoldered or smouldered; smoldering or smouldering
ˈsmōl-d(ə-)riŋ 
1
a
: to burn sluggishly, without flame, and often with much smoke
b
: to be consumed by smoldering
—often used with out
2
: to exist in a state of suppressed activity
hostilities smoldered for years
3
: to show suppressed anger, hate, or jealousy
eyes smoldering with hate
Examples of smolder in a Sentence
The remains of the campfire smoldered.
Her eyes smoldered with anger.
Anger smoldered in my heart.
Recent Examples on the Web
The flight from Paris to the island of Réunion, a French overseas department in the Indian Ocean, takes 11 hours, skirting the smoldering crater of the Piton de la Fournaise volcano before landing just shy of the water.
—
Jay Cheshes, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 May 2025
The American Love Story team apparently reviewed auditions from over a thousand actors over the course of six months to find their John F. Kennedy Jr., but clearly, Kelly’s smoldering appeal resonated with them.
—Emma Specter, Vogue, 13 May 2025
The Los Angeles wildfires were still smoldering when President Donald Trump began reversing Biden-era directives for federal agencies to tackle the climate crisis.
—Nidhi Sharma, NBC news, 12 May 2025
Aromas are reminiscent of beautiful Sicilian fields of wildflowers and olive trees with blackberry compote, fresh black currants with sweet tobacco, and a marvelous finishing note of smoldering earth that goes on and on along the sculpted tannins.
—Cathrine Todd, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for smolder
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Jay Cheshes, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 May 2025
The American Love Story team apparently reviewed auditions from over a thousand actors over the course of six months to find their John F. Kennedy Jr., but clearly, Kelly’s smoldering appeal resonated with them.
—Emma Specter, Vogue, 13 May 2025
The Los Angeles wildfires were still smoldering when President Donald Trump began reversing Biden-era directives for federal agencies to tackle the climate crisis.
—Nidhi Sharma, NBC news, 12 May 2025
Aromas are reminiscent of beautiful Sicilian fields of wildflowers and olive trees with blackberry compote, fresh black currants with sweet tobacco, and a marvelous finishing note of smoldering earth that goes on and on along the sculpted tannins.
—Cathrine Todd, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for smolder
Cite this Entry
“Smolder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/smolder. Accessed 27 May. 2025.
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