smolder
verb (used without object)
to burn without flame; undergo slow or suppressed combustion.
smoldered
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past participleof smolder.past participle
A verb form used in perfect and passive verb constructions and that can also function as a modifier.
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past tense formof smolder.past tense
Used to describe completed actions or previous habitual actions.
smolderverb (used without object)to burn without flame; undergo slow or suppressed combustion.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Prosecutors said the Lachman fire smoldered underground for a week before exploding into the deadly Palisades fire.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 25, 2026
The blaze, which firefighters had said was contained hours later, smoldered underground in dense vegetation for days until powerful winds on Jan. 7 caused it to spread, authorities said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2025
It smoldered for several days, spewing toxic gas into the air and prompting the evacuation of about 1,500 people.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 25, 2025
The fire, contained to a single building, smoldered for several days in mid-January.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 15, 2025
He sat atop a fallen tree that still smoldered, studying his fingernails.
From "Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky" by Kwame Mbalia
