variants
or smoulder
smoldered or smouldered; smoldering or smouldering
ˈsmōl-d(ə-)riŋ 
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
Zara goes back to her hometown of Catalina Cove and re-encounters the smoldering Saint, and their affair grows hot enough to burn Zara’s cottage down.
—
Lorraine Berry, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2024
These conflicts would continue to smolder for decades.
—Maurice Samuels / Made By History, TIME, 21 May 2024
Moments later, the lights illuminating the stage switch from a smoldering warmth to cool purples and blues as Tems descends from her platform.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 21 May 2024
Her voice is an ember that can smolder or burn red-hot; her laugh can sound coquettish or sharp, like the cries of an exotic bird.
—J Wortham, New York Times, 12 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for smolder 
Lorraine Berry, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2024
These conflicts would continue to smolder for decades.
—Maurice Samuels / Made By History, TIME, 21 May 2024
Moments later, the lights illuminating the stage switch from a smoldering warmth to cool purples and blues as Tems descends from her platform.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 21 May 2024
Her voice is an ember that can smolder or burn red-hot; her laugh can sound coquettish or sharp, like the cries of an exotic bird.
—J Wortham, New York Times, 12 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for smolder
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'smolder.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near smolder
Cite this Entry
“Smolder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/smolder. Accessed 5 Jun. 2024.
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