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
Despite all efforts, the thick wooden timbers continued to smolder for days.
—
Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 May 2024
The framed image of what appears to be a school portrait depicts Bacon circa age 14, in a thick turtleneck and dark jacket, smoldering for the camera.
—Jack Smart, Peoplemag, 6 May 2024
Photos of the wreckage showed the mangled aircraft still smoldering in a homeowner’s front yard.
—Tanasia Kenney, Miami Herald, 2 May 2024
The book set a strand of apocalyptic worry about AI smoldering that recently flared up following the arrival of ChatGPT.
—Will Knight, WIRED, 2 May 2024
Shakira locks in on the camera with a fierce, smoldering intensity and begins rhythmically swaying hips clad in studded black leather.
—Patricia Alfonso Tortolani, Allure, 1 Apr. 2024
The fire continued to smolder throughout early Monday morning until all spots were completely extinguished.
—Kira Caspers, The Arizona Republic, 3 Apr. 2024
When police arrived, the 26-year-old’s body still smoldered.
—Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Apr. 2024
In the medium term, smoke and any smoldering hot spots should stay generally to our south and southwest, away from the Beltway.
—A. Camden Walker, Washington Post, 24 Mar. 2024
Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 May 2024
The framed image of what appears to be a school portrait depicts Bacon circa age 14, in a thick turtleneck and dark jacket, smoldering for the camera.
—Jack Smart, Peoplemag, 6 May 2024
Photos of the wreckage showed the mangled aircraft still smoldering in a homeowner’s front yard.
—Tanasia Kenney, Miami Herald, 2 May 2024
The book set a strand of apocalyptic worry about AI smoldering that recently flared up following the arrival of ChatGPT.
—Will Knight, WIRED, 2 May 2024
Shakira locks in on the camera with a fierce, smoldering intensity and begins rhythmically swaying hips clad in studded black leather.
—Patricia Alfonso Tortolani, Allure, 1 Apr. 2024
The fire continued to smolder throughout early Monday morning until all spots were completely extinguished.
—Kira Caspers, The Arizona Republic, 3 Apr. 2024
When police arrived, the 26-year-old’s body still smoldered.
—Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Apr. 2024
In the medium term, smoke and any smoldering hot spots should stay generally to our south and southwest, away from the Beltway.
—A. Camden Walker, Washington Post, 24 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'smolder.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near smolder
Cite this Entry
“Smolder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/smolder. Accessed 10 May. 2024.
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