1
as in to glow
to be on fire especially brightly
all evening long we just sat there, contentedly watching the Yule log burn
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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
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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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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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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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Examples 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
Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 1 Nov. 2024
Getting chlorine on your skin or eyes can lead to burns.
—Kashif J. Piracha, Verywell Health, 31 Oct. 2024
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
In his review of the series, IndieWire’s Ben Travers pointed out that the the first four episodes stretched the welcome of a slow burn, that the stakes weren’t high enough and the energy lacking in what should have been a full-bodied villain adventure.
—Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 1 Nov. 2024
Getting chlorine on your skin or eyes can lead to burns.
—Kashif J. Piracha, Verywell Health, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for burn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burn
Verb
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Users can see a developing fire on the map, represented by a glowing yellow dot well before its perimeter is reported to the NIFC.Kristin Shaw, Popular Science, 14 Nov. 2024
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One key incumbent appeared to be heading off a possible upset: That was Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard, who seemed likely to continue his astounding run as the only Republican to hold countywide office, even as Oakland County seemingly glows a brighter blue with each election.Bill Laytner, Detroit Free Press, 6 Nov. 2024
Verb
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In New York City, brush fires scorched parts of Prospect and Inwood Hill parks over the past week.Evan Bush, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024
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But the music and dance numbers don’t leave much of an impression, except one in which Saldaña scorches things up in a restaurant and another when Selena Gomez, as Emilia’s wife Jessi, sings and dances in a bedroom.Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024
Verb
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An aerial photo of the exercise showed the two carriers steaming side by side, with fighter jets overhead and at least 11 support ships from their carrier strike groups trailing.Edward Szekeres and Brad Lendon, CNN, 1 Nov. 2024
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Elijah, still steaming after Olympia unilaterally ended their relationship last week, seems to take a perverse glee in informing her that the firm now represents Foundate Financials, the corporation which owns the Waltons’ apartment building (among many, many others).Noel Murray, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2024
Verb
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The night starts off lightheartedly enough with aggrieved vice-principal Mr. Pearson calling 9-1-1 to demand firefighters extinguish the bag of flaming dog poop on his porch.Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2024
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After pulling up his camera on Hart Prairie, Richardson reported leaves this year are a duller orange-brown rather than a flaming yellow.Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 23 Oct. 2024
Verb
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Have both deceived themselves about their ambitions, their desires, their essential natures?Sara Holdren, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2024
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Decisions made in good faith leave you vulnerable to being deceived as the moon clashes with Neptune.USA TODAY, USA TODAY, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
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If necessary, vampire bats can gorge and consume four times their body weight in liquid.Mack DeGeurin, Popular Science, 7 Nov. 2024
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Koalas spend most of their time sleeping and eating — consuming a diet mostly of eucalyptus leaves.Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 6 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Or might the brook be angry, like a poltergeist deranged by degradation, indignity, and concealment?Cheri Lucas Rowlands, Longreads, 30 Oct. 2024
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Moore, even in her 90s, is quite the babbling brook — twinkly and self-possessed, a calm pathological narcissist, the kind of person who spins out her life like a novel, making stories she’s told a million times sound spontaneous.Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 15 Oct. 2024
Verb
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Firefighters arrived to find a fire blazing on the second floor of the two-story structure, sending a red glow and smoke into the night sky.Alexandria Burris, The Indianapolis Star, 27 Oct. 2024
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With Fresh Picks, Billboard aims to highlight some of the best and most interesting new sounds across R&B and hip-hop — from Cordae’s blazing new track to Elijah Blake and Sevyn Streeter’s smoldering duet.Michael Saponara, Billboard, 14 Oct. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Burn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burn. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
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