1
as in to glow
to be on fire especially brightly
all evening long we just sat there, contentedly watching the Yule log burn
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in to scorch
to set (something) on fire
it is not a good idea to try to burn old papers in the sink
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to steam
to be excited or emotionally stirred up with anger
he came home burning with anger because of a reprimand at work
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4
as in to flame
to shine with a bright harsh light
the bright streetlight outside our motel room burned all night long
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5
as in to deceive
to cause to believe what is untrue
he's been burned before, so he's careful to double-check such claims now
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in to consume
to make complete use of
heedlessly burning the country's resources without any concern for future generations
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in brook
a natural body of running water smaller than a river
the walkers forded the shallow burn and then came upon a field of gorse
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of burn
Courtland Milloy, Washington Post, 12 Sep. 2023
William Lucas, 8, survived after Tonya Lucas’ boyfriend at the time rescued him from the burning home.
—Alex Mann, Baltimore Sun, 12 Sep. 2023
Nik Popli, Time, 2 June 2025
Eight people were hospitalized with burns, Boulder Police said in an update Sunday night.
—Leah Sarnoff, ABC News, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for burn
Verb
Such interactions can light a fuse that may burn throughout a school year, only to erupt when students arrive for a new semester driving their parents’ car.
—Courtland Milloy, Washington Post, 12 Sep. 2023
William Lucas, 8, survived after Tonya Lucas’ boyfriend at the time rescued him from the burning home.
—Alex Mann, Baltimore Sun, 12 Sep. 2023
Noun
At least eight people, ranging from ages 52 to 88, were hospitalized with burns and other injuries, authorities said.
—Nik Popli, Time, 2 June 2025
Eight people were hospitalized with burns, Boulder Police said in an update Sunday night.
—Leah Sarnoff, ABC News, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for burn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burn
Verb
-
Some shoppers are leaving glowing reviews to go with their five-star ratings.—
Isabel Garcia,
People.com,
14 June 2025
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Another bit of seasonal magic: On Vieques, an island off the coast of Puerto Rico, the bioluminescent Mosquito Bay glows brightest from June to August, and the calm waters are ideal for kayaking.—
Laura Begley Bloom,
AFAR Media,
13 June 2025
Verb
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Witt was scorching to start the season, batting .322 with an OPS of .863 in March and April.—
Maddie Hartley,
Kansas City Star,
15 June 2025
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The slugger scorched a fastball that looked to go over the right-field wall, but Josh Lowe was there to catch the ball on the warning track.—
Fiifi Frimpong,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 June 2025
Verb
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The situation was on the minds of many who cheered when the Ford steamed from its pier in Norfolk, with tugboats hugging the carrier's hull and sailors lining the sprawling deck in their dress-white uniforms.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
25 June 2025
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History trickled into the bitterness between the two sides and left Roberts still steaming even after the Dodgers’ 8-6 win.—
Dennis Lin,
New York Times,
18 June 2025
Verb
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The president and the governor are having a momentous fight about constitutional rights in the courts, and flaming each other with insults and photoshopped memes on Truth Social and X. The ICE raids have thrown some Angelenos into a state of fear and virtual hiding.—
Julia Wick,
Los Angeles Times,
14 June 2025
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The flaming vehicles posed threats protestors may not have been fully aware of because of their unique design.—
Charles Singh,
USA Today,
12 June 2025
Verb
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Notably, 40 percent acknowledged faking activity to deceive monitoring systems, suggesting a struggle to maintain consistent performance outside traditional office settings.—
Suzanne Blake,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 June 2025
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So there’s an interesting, dark comedy element to people that are deceiving themselves.—
Mark Hughes,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2025
Verb
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Older people have been hearing about heart health from their doctors for years, and data show that smoking weed and consuming edibles can have catastrophic cardiovascular effects.—
Kevin Sabet,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 June 2025
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LinkedIn has become essential for business development, but traditional LinkedIn networking approaches consume hours without guaranteed returns.—
Sarah Hernholm,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2025
Noun
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The vast and varied network of the Camino de Santiago has been compared to a river system where small brooks join together to make streams, and those streams come together to make rivers that ‘flow’ to the cathedral.—
Cecilia Rodriguez,
Forbes.com,
22 June 2025
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The surrounding 23 acres the estate sits on are full of trails ripe for exploring, too, and take visitors past historic stone walls, cemeteries, and babbling brooks.—
Blair West,
Travel + Leisure,
5 June 2025
Verb
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More than five months ago, the Eaton wildfire blazed through this Greater Los Angeles community of Altadena.—
Melanie Stetson Freeman,
Christian Science Monitor,
20 June 2025
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National Park Service When the summer sun is blazing, there’s no better way to cool off than by heading underground.—
Erin Gifford,
USA Today,
18 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Burn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burn. Accessed 29 Jun. 2025.
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