smolder
verb
smol·der ˈsmōl-dər 
variants or smoulder
smoldered or smouldered; smoldering or smouldering ˈsmōl-d(ə-)riŋ
intransitive verb
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
Example Sentences
The remains of the campfire smoldered. Her eyes smoldered with anger. Anger smoldered in my heart.
Recent Examples on the Web Fire can smolder below the surface in the duff for weeks. 
New York Times, 20 Aug. 2022 From there, the whole birds are skewered and placed into rotisserie ovens that smolder with natural wood charcoal, generating enough heat to cook the poultry in about an hour. Tim Carman, Washington Post, 18 July 2022 These cuts follow other contractions in the real estate industry as the red hot housing market has begun to smolder. Anna Bahney, CNN, 20 June 2022 Blazes such as the Calf Canyon fire that overwinter, continuing to smolder throughout recurring snowfall and cold weather, are even more unusual. Jason Samenow, Washington Post, 27 May 2022 Andreas Frank watched from the second story of his ridge-top Laguna Niguel home as the hillside below began to smolder. Hannah Frystaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2022 Later in the day, the Coast Guard tweeted the boat had burned down to the waterline and continued to smolder about 1 mile west of Nehalem Bay State Park. Fox News, 20 June 2022 Branches used for cooking fires smolder in piles nearby. New York Times, 14 June 2022 Even throwing those materials into the dirt can smolder and ignite nearby organic material. Anchorage Daily News, 30 May 2022 See More
New York Times, 20 Aug. 2022 From there, the whole birds are skewered and placed into rotisserie ovens that smolder with natural wood charcoal, generating enough heat to cook the poultry in about an hour. Tim Carman, Washington Post, 18 July 2022 These cuts follow other contractions in the real estate industry as the red hot housing market has begun to smolder. Anna Bahney, CNN, 20 June 2022 Blazes such as the Calf Canyon fire that overwinter, continuing to smolder throughout recurring snowfall and cold weather, are even more unusual. Jason Samenow, Washington Post, 27 May 2022 Andreas Frank watched from the second story of his ridge-top Laguna Niguel home as the hillside below began to smolder. Hannah Frystaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2022 Later in the day, the Coast Guard tweeted the boat had burned down to the waterline and continued to smolder about 1 mile west of Nehalem Bay State Park. Fox News, 20 June 2022 Branches used for cooking fires smolder in piles nearby. New York Times, 14 June 2022 Even throwing those materials into the dirt can smolder and ignite nearby organic material. Anchorage Daily News, 30 May 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English smolderen to smother, from smolder smoke, smudge; akin to Middle Dutch smōlen to smolder
First Known Use
1529, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Kids Definition
smolder
verb
smol·der
variants or smoulder
smoldered or smouldered; smoldering or smouldering
1
: to burn slowly usually with smoke and without flame
A fire was smoldering in the grate.
2
: to burn inwardly
Her anger smoldered.
smoldering 1 of 2
adjective
variants or smouldering
as in burning
being on fire with no visible flames but often with much smoke All that was left of the campfire were smoldering embers. Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- burning
- flickering
- glowing
- flaming
- charred
- burned
- blazing
- flaring
- aglow
- ignited
- fiery
- burnt
- scorching
- lit
- aflame
- ablaze
- afire
- live
- combusting
- searing
- sizzling
- kindled
- inflamed
- roasting
- scorched
- alight
- enflamed
- broiling
- scalding
- lighted
- conflagrant
- hot
- singed
- incinerated
- seared
- red-hot
- piping hot
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- extinguished
- dead
- smothered
- choked
- stamped (out)
- doused
- quenched
- suffocated
- damped
- snuffed (out)
- dowsed
smoldering
2 of 2verb
variants or smouldering
1
as in snarling
to be excited or emotionally stirred up with anger She smoldered when first learning of her son's misbehavior at school, but had calmed down by the time he arrived home. Synonyms & Similar Words
- snarling
- steaming
- burning
- seething
- snapping
- angering
- storming
- foaming
- sputtering
- raging
- bristling
- fuming
- rampaging
- fulminating
- venting
- vituperating
- blustering
- raving
- blowing up
- teeing off
- flipping (out)
- flaring (up)
- ranting
- stewing
- carrying on
- chafing
- taking on
- fretting
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- soothing
- containing
- suppressing
- smothering
- stifling
- curbing
- restraining
- checking
- collecting
- composing
- swallowing
- repressing
- subduing
- choking (back)
- strangling
- pacifying
- tempering
- appeasing
- allaying
- cooling
- relaxing
- moderating
- reining
- pocketing
- settling
- easing
- calming
- quieting
- toning (down)
- quelling
- letting up
- stilling
- hushing
2
as in blazing
to be on fire usually with smoke but few flames They look forward to those long summer nights telling stories beside a smoldering campfire. Synonyms & Similar Words
- blazing
- burning
- flaming
- glowing
- flickering
- combusting
- igniting
- sputtering
- sparkling
- sparking
- glistening
- charring
- kindling
- shimmering
- scorching
- gleaming
- melting
- firing
- enkindling
- roasting
- sweltering
- broiling
- glittering
- deflagrating
- wavering
- cooking
- baking
- glimmering
- twinkling
- catching
- shining
- radiating
- guttering
- glaring
- scintillating
- glinting
- flashing
- beaming
- brightening
- lighting (up)
- flaring (up)
- beating (down)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- extinguishing
- darkening
- dimming