as in searing
having a notably high temperature
it was boiling in that car, and the owners had foolishly left their pet in it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in steaming
to be excited or emotionally stirred up with anger
the passengers were boiling when they found out the flight was delayed yet again
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in stewing
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example 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 boiling
semafor.com, 29 Dec. 2025
Agrawal and her team studied ionic liquids — salts that are liquid at sub-boiling temperatures (below 212 degrees Fahrenheit, or 100 degrees Celsius) — as a potential hospitable environment for life.
—Stefanie Waldek, Space.com, 13 Aug. 2025
One idea is that about a million years after the Big Bang, the universe cooled and underwent a phase transition, an event similar to how boiling water turns liquid into gas.
—Yasemin Saplakoglu, Scientific American, 3 Mar. 2020
If candy is still stuck on, pour more boiling water over whatever hasn’t come clean.
—Washington Post, 3 Dec. 2019
The simplest fix could be as easy as boiling water—boil a medium-size pot once or twice per week, and pour down the drain.
—Country Living Staff, Country Living, 14 Oct. 2019
Although boiling water is always a set temperature, eggs coming from the fridge or countertop are not.
—Genevieve Ko, latimes.com, 18 June 2019
Organizers shared tips to help prevent the virus, which include washing hands with soap for more than 30 seconds, eating food that is thoroughly cooked and boiling water before drinking.
—Rachel Axon, USA TODAY Sports, 6 Feb. 2018
More boiling water: Boil water advisories typically happen due to a water main break and/or a loss of pressure in the water system.
—Brian Manzullo, Detroit Free Press, 24 Oct. 2017
Heather Riske, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 June 2026
The boiling water creates intense thermal shock that instantly ruptures the plant's cell walls, melting its protective waxy coating and causing the foliage to collapse and dehydrate, effectively cooking the plant tissue.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 10 June 2026
While the water is technically heated to near-boiling temperatures to brew coffee and tea, that’s not always enough to guarantee safety, especially when altitude changes the boiling point.
—Alesandra Dubin, Southern Living, 7 June 2026
But when Prince meets print, that means boiling everything down even further.
—Ahmir “questlove” Thompson, VIBE.com, 7 June 2026
Gee, and Steve Lacy, musicians who blissfully elide genres and excel at boiling big emotions down to the most human scale.
—Jon Dolan, Rolling Stone, 4 June 2026
The objects of Cady’s slow-boiling vengeance — seemingly — are married lawyers Tom (Patrick Wilson) and Anna Bowden (Amy Adams), sharing the position previously represented solely by Gregory Peck and Nick Nolte in turn.
—Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026
If not already boiling, bring to a boil.
—Emily Weinstein, Twin Cities, 4 June 2026
Begin by pouring approximately 2 cups of hot boiling hot or boiling water down the sink drain.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 30 May 2026
Adjective
More humane methods of killing lobsters pre-boiling include a sharp knife through the head, electrical stunning, or freezing.
—semafor.com, 29 Dec. 2025
Agrawal and her team studied ionic liquids — salts that are liquid at sub-boiling temperatures (below 212 degrees Fahrenheit, or 100 degrees Celsius) — as a potential hospitable environment for life.
—Stefanie Waldek, Space.com, 13 Aug. 2025
One idea is that about a million years after the Big Bang, the universe cooled and underwent a phase transition, an event similar to how boiling water turns liquid into gas.
—Yasemin Saplakoglu, Scientific American, 3 Mar. 2020
If candy is still stuck on, pour more boiling water over whatever hasn’t come clean.
—Washington Post, 3 Dec. 2019
The simplest fix could be as easy as boiling water—boil a medium-size pot once or twice per week, and pour down the drain.
—Country Living Staff, Country Living, 14 Oct. 2019
Although boiling water is always a set temperature, eggs coming from the fridge or countertop are not.
—Genevieve Ko, latimes.com, 18 June 2019
Organizers shared tips to help prevent the virus, which include washing hands with soap for more than 30 seconds, eating food that is thoroughly cooked and boiling water before drinking.
—Rachel Axon, USA TODAY Sports, 6 Feb. 2018
More boiling water: Boil water advisories typically happen due to a water main break and/or a loss of pressure in the water system.
—Brian Manzullo, Detroit Free Press, 24 Oct. 2017
Verb
Use kosher salt when seasoning, roasting, brining, pickling, baking, or even just boiling water for your favorite pasta recipe.
—Heather Riske, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 June 2026
The boiling water creates intense thermal shock that instantly ruptures the plant's cell walls, melting its protective waxy coating and causing the foliage to collapse and dehydrate, effectively cooking the plant tissue.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 10 June 2026
While the water is technically heated to near-boiling temperatures to brew coffee and tea, that’s not always enough to guarantee safety, especially when altitude changes the boiling point.
—Alesandra Dubin, Southern Living, 7 June 2026
But when Prince meets print, that means boiling everything down even further.
—Ahmir “questlove” Thompson, VIBE.com, 7 June 2026
Gee, and Steve Lacy, musicians who blissfully elide genres and excel at boiling big emotions down to the most human scale.
—Jon Dolan, Rolling Stone, 4 June 2026
The objects of Cady’s slow-boiling vengeance — seemingly — are married lawyers Tom (Patrick Wilson) and Anna Bowden (Amy Adams), sharing the position previously represented solely by Gregory Peck and Nick Nolte in turn.
—Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026
If not already boiling, bring to a boil.
—Emily Weinstein, Twin Cities, 4 June 2026
Begin by pouring approximately 2 cups of hot boiling hot or boiling water down the sink drain.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 30 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for boiling
Adjective
-
Crisping the perfect pizza crust on a baking steel, searing steaks on a grill, draining a pot of scalding pasta water, or pulling a hot potato from an oven—none of these are the time or place to play it fast and loose.—
Adam Campbell-Schmitt,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
17 June 2026
-
In April the hearing resumed with three searing days of testimony.—
Karen Valby,
Vanity Fair,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
Primitive manmade paths have been carved among the hills, which are dotted with steaming vents, small rivers, and glacial ice.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 June 2026
-
When in doubt, stick to food that is cooked and served steaming hot.—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
This idea’s been stewing in my brain ever since.—
Olivier Lafontant,
Pitchfork,
9 June 2026
-
Something about her kept stewing in my head.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Rumors then began swirling that Wilde and Pugh clashed on set over creative differences.—
Zack Sharf,
Variety,
17 June 2026
-
Some other great ways to use it include thinning it with lemon juice and water for a salad dressing, drizzling it over roasted cauliflower or sweet potato, swirling it into a savory oatmeal, or using it as the base for noodle sauces.—
Lauren Panoff,
Verywell Health,
15 June 2026
Adjective
-
Some people drove or walked by, staring, and a video of the cross-burning gained traction online.—
Hallie Golden,
Los Angeles Times,
10 June 2026
-
An important insider just shed light on one of the most burning questions in reality TV.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
Even a raging campfire might throw only 30 or 40 lux.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 June 2026
-
This question stabs at the heart of the culture war that is currently raging in America.—
Dr. Matthew Warshauer,
Hartford Courant,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
In other words, the drug may not create the problem from scratch so much as unmask or worsen one that was already simmering.—
Ryan Brennan,
Sacbee.com,
13 June 2026
-
Place chocolate in a bowl set over (not in) a saucepan of simmering water.—
Martha Stewart,
Martha Stewart,
13 June 2026
Verb
-
Roasting peaches intensifies their flavor, and in this old-school recipe, they're mashed and mixed into a rich custard before churning into a creamy, fruit-forward ice cream.—
Patricia S York,
Southern Living,
12 June 2026
-
Any justice in the community would praise this murderer’s row of craftspeople working on the production design for the period town setting; makeup, especially Pennywise’s horrible face; sound design, for helping to keep the audio terrors churning along; and the costume work.—
William Earl,
Variety,
11 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Boiling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/boiling. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
