smolder

verbburn, simmer

Word Origin & History

c.1300 (implied in smoldering), "to smother, suffocate," related to Middle Dutch smolen, Low German smelen, Flemish smoel "hot," from Proto-Germanic *smel-, *smul-. The intransitive meaning "burn and smoke without flame" is first recorded 1520s, fell from use 17c. (though smoldering persisted in poetry) and was revived 19c. Figurative sense "exist in a suppressed state; burn inwardly" is from 1810. Related: Smouldered; smolderingly. Middle English also had a noun smolder meaning "smoky vapor, a stifling smoke."

Example Sentences for smolder

There was no longer a smolder in Latisan—it was all a red flame!

The flame of discontent, nevertheless, continued to smolder.

The decks of the Savissan craft were beginning to smolder, and her arrow fire was weakening.

Conan's eyes began to smolder ominously, but he trod warily into the chamber, his sword ready.

For a Zamboulan dancer to blush would be an impossibility, but ...

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Synonyms for smolder

verb burn, simmer

smolder

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More words related to smolder

boil

bubble

bubbled

bubbles

burn

fester

smolder

Synonyms for smolder

Antonyms for smolder

More words related to smolder

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bubble

bubbled

bubbles

burn

fester

boil