boil 1 of 2

as in blister
a small, inflamed swelling of the skin the dermatologist lanced the infected boil that had formed on the patient's neck

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boil

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to steam
to be excited or emotionally stirred up with anger the passengers were boiling when they found out the flight was delayed yet again

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2
as in to stew
to cook in a liquid heated to the point that it gives off steam boil the potatoes until they are tender before you try to mash them

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3
as in to churn
to be in a state of violent rolling motion the sea boiled and frothed during the storm

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Examples Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of boil
Noun
Assemble Cocktail In a large saucepan bring water to a boil. Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Dec. 2024 And in our little Yellowstone world, that helped ramp the show up into a boil. Julia Moore, People.com, 17 Dec. 2024
Verb
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power also advised people in the Pacific Palisades, north of San Vicente Boulevard, to only use bottled or boiled water for drinking and cooking. Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY, 10 Jan. 2025 Though water service has since sputtered back in some parts of town, officials said on Wednesday that people in Richmond and some surrounding areas would probably need to keep boiling their water at least until Friday. Campbell Robertson, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for boil 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for boil
Noun
  • Adidas Originals Stan Smith Sneakers These iconic Stan Smith sneakers offer form and function thanks to their simple design, soft leather material (no blisters here!), and roomy fit.
    Rylee Johnston, Travel + Leisure, 12 Jan. 2025
  • She was exhausted from another day on the job, her hands covered in blisters.
    Jordan Salama, The New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • On that day, a Soviet Navy submarine called K-129 attached to the 15th Submarine Squadron of the Soviet Pacific Fleet steamed out of Rybachiy Naval Base in Kamchatka on a routine patrol that ended up being anything but routine.
    David Szondy, New Atlas, 4 Jan. 2025
  • The data shows that 2024 steamed to one of the warmest years on record across the continental United States from coast to coast.
    Martin E. Comas, Orlando Sentinel, 3 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • While Paul’s off having a particularly frustrating day, Lydia’s at home stewing in her grief.
    Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 12 Dec. 2024
  • But while the Giants stew over their next quarterback amid a terrible campaign, Jones perhaps has found new life in Minnesota.
    Scott Thompson, Fox News, 11 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • To protect him, the men tied him into his bunk so he wouldn’t be tossed about by the churning seas.
    David Wolman, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Jan. 2025
  • In the back, a bridge leads to a gazebo perched on a boulder that juts over the churning river running behind the property.
    Roxana Popescu, New York Times, 3 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Along with his obesity amd high blood pressure, Henry suffered from painful venous leg ulcers that made his lower limbs swell, and pustules would burst.
    Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 9 Jan. 2025
  • Folliculitis can, in turn, lead to red pimples and pustules—sort of like scalp acne.
    Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 26 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • That toll could rise as the fires continue to rage.
    ABC News, ABC News, 12 Jan. 2025
  • With the Grammy Awards exactly three weeks away, the wildfires that continue to rage across the event’s long-running home city of Los Angeles have led many in the industry to speculate whether or not the show will be postponed.
    Jem Aswad, Variety, 12 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • The simmering geopolitical rivalry between the U.S. and China has made supply chains more vulnerable to disruption—heightening the importance of this mineral race even further.
    Duncan Money / Made by History, TIME, 8 Jan. 2025
  • All of that will be simmering in the Browns’ offices in the weeks leading up to the NFL Draft.
    Jim Ingraham, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Swift and 35-year-old Kelce's relationship has captured the public's attention since rumors of their romance began swirling in the fall of 2023.
    Michael Gfoeller And David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 15 Jan. 2025
  • In early January and up until last week, reports swirled in Colombia that Fuad Char, 87, a successful entrepreneur, former politician, and principal owner of Junior, was negotiating with Rodriguez.
    Felipe Cardenas, The Athletic, 15 Jan. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Boil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/boil. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.

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