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

When the ovens are running, temperatures can reach a smoldering 115 degrees in the kitchen. —Olivia Lee, Charlotte Observer, 31 Mar. 2025

The blaze smoldered for days, and toxic smoke forced the evacuation of more than 1,000 people. —Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2025

Three years later the Foundation began offering two smoldering calendars: a men’s and a women’s edition. —Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 23 Mar. 2025

The blaze may have started in the basement and smoldered for a while before someone spotted smoke and called it in, said San Miguel Fire-Rescue District Battalion Chief Brian Lieberman. —Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Mar. 2025

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

Rhymes for smolder

• bolder
• bowlder
• colder
• folder
• golder
• holder
• molder
• moulder
• older
• polder
• shoulder
• beholder

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