smoulder Definition
- 1burn slowly with smoke but no flame
- 2show or feel barely suppressed anger, hatred, or another powerful emotion
Using smoulder: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "smoulder" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The campfire continued to smoulder long after we had gone to bed.
Example
She tried to smoulder her anger, but it eventually boiled over.
Example
The tension between the two teams smouldered throughout the game.
Example
The embers of their love affair still smouldered.
smoulder Synonyms and Antonyms
Phrases with smoulder
Example
The logs smouldered away to ash.
to feel intense anger or bitterness towards someone or something
Example
He smouldered with resentment towards his former boss.
Example
The fire eventually smouldered out.
Origins of smoulder
from Middle English 'smolderen', meaning 'to smother'
Summary: smoulder in Brief
The verb 'smoulder' [ˈsməʊldə(r)] refers to the slow burning of a fire without flames or the barely suppressed feeling of a powerful emotion. It can be used to describe physical phenomena like a campfire or emotional states like anger or resentment. Examples include 'The campfire continued to smoulder long after we had gone to bed.' and 'She tried to smoulder her anger, but it eventually boiled over.' Phrases like 'smoulder away' and 'smoulder with resentment' extend the meaning of the word.