smolder
or smoul·der
- to burn without flame; undergo slow or suppressed combustion.
- to exist or continue in a suppressed state or without outward demonstration: Hatred smoldered beneath a polite surface.
- to display repressed feelings, as of indignation, anger, or the like: to smolder with rage.
- dense smoke resulting from slow or suppressed combustion.
- a smoldering fire.
Origin of smolder
Related Words for smolder
explode, fester, erupt, seethe, boil, consume, bubble, fume, fulminate, smoke, ferment, churn, stir, steamExamples from the Web for smolder
Contemporary Examples of smolder
The embers of guilt over the entire episode are placed deep within Hilly, where it will smolder for the rest of his life.
Nevertheless, it continues to smolder away in Chicago, posing a potential threat to the Obama administration.
Arson…Whole streets of tenements and warehouses abandoned to smolder.
Rob can just sort of stand there and look at something and start to smolder.
Historical Examples of smolder
There was no longer a smolder in Latisan—it was all a red flame!
Joan of Arc of the North WoodsHolman Day
The flame of discontent, nevertheless, continued to smolder.
The Hispanic Nations of the New WorldWilliam R. Shepherd
The decks of the Savissan craft were beginning to smolder, and her arrow fire was weakening.
The Golden Amazons of VenusJohn Murray Reynolds
Conan's eyes began to smolder ominously, but he trod warily into the chamber, his sword ready.
Shadows in ZamboulaRobert E. Howard
For a Zamboulan dancer to blush would be an impossibility, but a smolder of anger mingled with the fear in Zabibi's dilated eyes.
Shadows in ZamboulaRobert E. Howard
smolder
- the US spelling of smoulder
Word Origin and History for smolder
c.1300 (implied in smoldering), "to smother, suffocate," related to Middle Dutch smolen, Low German smelen, Flemish smoel "hot," from Proto-Germanic *smel-, *smul-. The intransitive meaning "burn and smoke without flame" is first recorded 1520s, fell from use 17c. (though smoldering persisted in poetry) and was revived 19c. Figurative sense "exist in a suppressed state; burn inwardly" is from 1810. Related: Smouldered; smolderingly. Middle English also had a noun smolder meaning "smoky vapor, a stifling smoke."