smolder

verb

smol·​der ˈsmōl-dər How to pronounce smolder (audio)
variants or smoulder
smoldered or smouldered; smoldering or smouldering ˈsmōl-d(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce smolder (audio)
Synonyms of smoldernext

intransitive verb

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Now, Field wonders what might be smoldering inside him. — John Bonifield, CNN, 23 Mar. 2025 How a 30-year-old singer, born in Argentina and raised in Spain, manages to channel the smoldering melodrama of Latin music’s golden era with such uncanny precision remains a bit of a mystery. — Ernesto Lechner, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2025 This planetary nebula is the remains of a star similar to the sun, which shed most of its mass at the end of its life, with its core becoming a smoldering white dwarf shrouded by this ex-stellar material. — Robert Lea, Space.com, 5 Mar. 2025 Still others provided expertise in containing outbreaks of dangerous pathogens like Ebola and Marburg, which are smoldering in Uganda and Tanzania. — Apoorva Mandavilli, New York Times, 8 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for smolder

Word History

Etymology

Middle English smolderen to smother, from smolder smoke, smudge; akin to Middle Dutch smōlen to smolder

First Known Use

1529, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of smolder was in 1529

Rhymes for smolder

See All Rhymes for smolder

Browse Nearby Words

smoky topaz
smolder
smolderingly
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Smolder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/smolder. Accessed 29 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

smolder

1 of 2 noun
smol·​der
variants or smoulder
ˈsmōl-dər
: a slow smoky fire

smolder

2 of 2 verb
variants or smoulder
smoldered or smouldered; smoldering or smouldering
-d(ə-)riŋ
1
: to burn slowly with smoke and usually without flame
fire was smoldering in the pit
2
: to exist or continue in a hidden or controlled state
discontent smoldered for years before the revolt
3
: to burn inwardly
anger smoldered in my heart

More from Merriam-Webster on smolder

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for smolder

Nglish: Translation of smolder for Spanish Speakers

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