smolder

verb

smol·​der ˈsmōl-dər 

variants or smoulder

smoldered or smouldered; smoldering or smouldering ˈsmōl-d(ə-)riŋ 

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

Then a smoldering intern, Harris Dickinson’s Samuel, creeps into her life. —Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 13 Dec. 2024

Residents gathered outside the building shivered in the cold, despite the still smoldering fire. —Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 3 Dec. 2024

Investigators after a lengthy probe ruled out arson and determined the fire was probably caused by an accident, either an electrical fault or sparked by a smoldering cigarette left by a workman. —Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 30 Nov. 2024

The Biden administration will be handing Donald Trump a Middle East that is still smoldering but no longer on the verge of explosion. —Hussein Ibish, The Atlantic, 28 Nov. 2024

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

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