Meaning & use
smolder
Last updated
Meanings
verbintransitive
To burn slowly with smoke but no flame.
Grammar: No object; often used of a fire that is almost out.
Patterns
- smolder for hours
- smolder in something
The campfire smoldered all night under the ashes.
Logs smoldered in the fireplace, giving off thick smoke.
verbintransitivefigurative
To have a strong feeling that is kept hidden and does not show openly.
Grammar: Often used with anger, resentment, or desire.
Patterns
- smolder with anger
- smolder for years
- smolder beneath the surface
He smoldered with resentment but said nothing.
Her anger smoldered for weeks before she finally spoke.
verbintransitivefigurative
To look at someone with strong, controlled emotion, especially anger or desire.
Grammar: Often followed by at.
Patterns
- smolder at someone
She smoldered at him across the table, too angry to speak.
Word forms
| third person singular | smolders |
|---|---|
| past tense | smoldered |
| past participle | smoldered |
| present participle | smoldering |
Common combinations
- smolder with anger
- He smoldered with anger after the meeting.
- smolder for hours
- The coals smoldered for hours.
- smolder beneath the surface
- Tension smoldered beneath the surface of the team.
- smoldering fire
- Firefighters watched the smoldering fire.
Synonyms and how they differ
- burn
- Burn is general and can mean flames; smolder specifically means burning without flames.
- seethe
- Seethe suggests hidden anger that is more agitated and visible than smolder.
- simmer
- Simmer is often used for feelings that are building up, like water about to boil, while smolder suggests a slower, smokier burn.
Word family
- smoldering adjective
- Burning slowly without flames, or showing strong held-in emotion: a smoldering look.
Commonly confused: smolder or molder?
smolder vs molder
Molder means to decay slowly, while smolder means to burn slowly.
Practice
After the argument, resentment ___ in the office for months.
Choose one answer.
The past tense 'smoldered' matches the past time phrase 'for months' and the completed situation. 'Smoldering' needs a helping verb like 'was', and 'smolder' and 'smolders' are present tense.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “smolder”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.