1
as in to glow
to be on fire especially brightly
all evening long we just sat there, contentedly watching the Yule log burn
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to scorch
to set (something) on fire
it is not a good idea to try to burn old papers in the sink
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to steam
to be excited or emotionally stirred up with anger
he came home burning with anger because of a reprimand at work
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in to flame
to shine with a bright harsh light
the bright streetlight outside our motel room burned all night long
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in to deceive
to cause to believe what is untrue
he's been burned before, so he's careful to double-check such claims now
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in to consume
to make complete use of
heedlessly burning the country's resources without any concern for future generations
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in brook
a natural body of running water smaller than a river
the walkers forded the shallow burn and then came upon a field of gorse
Synonyms & Similar Words
Examples Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of burn
Courtland Milloy, Washington Post, 12 Sep. 2023
William Lucas, 8, survived after Tonya Lucas’ boyfriend at the time rescued him from the burning home.
—Alex Mann, Baltimore Sun, 12 Sep. 2023
Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 1 Nov. 2024
Getting chlorine on your skin or eyes can lead to burns.
—Kashif J. Piracha, Verywell Health, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for burn 
Verb
Such interactions can light a fuse that may burn throughout a school year, only to erupt when students arrive for a new semester driving their parents’ car.
—Courtland Milloy, Washington Post, 12 Sep. 2023
William Lucas, 8, survived after Tonya Lucas’ boyfriend at the time rescued him from the burning home.
—Alex Mann, Baltimore Sun, 12 Sep. 2023
Noun
In his review of the series, IndieWire’s Ben Travers pointed out that the the first four episodes stretched the welcome of a slow burn, that the stakes weren’t high enough and the energy lacking in what should have been a full-bodied villain adventure.
—Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 1 Nov. 2024
Getting chlorine on your skin or eyes can lead to burns.
—Kashif J. Piracha, Verywell Health, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for burn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burn
Verb
-
Users can see a developing fire on the map, represented by a glowing yellow dot well before its perimeter is reported to the NIFC.Kristin Shaw, Popular Science, 14 Nov. 2024
-
One key incumbent appeared to be heading off a possible upset: That was Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard, who seemed likely to continue his astounding run as the only Republican to hold countywide office, even as Oakland County seemingly glows a brighter blue with each election.Bill Laytner, Detroit Free Press, 6 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
In New York City, brush fires scorched parts of Prospect and Inwood Hill parks over the past week.Evan Bush, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024
-
But the music and dance numbers don’t leave much of an impression, except one in which Saldaña scorches things up in a restaurant and another when Selena Gomez, as Emilia’s wife Jessi, sings and dances in a bedroom.Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
Softened butter can ooze and melt away in the oven before steaming, which is what really creates those pockets of air that lead to flaky pastry.Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 26 Nov. 2024
-
Crossroads Village steams along during holidays Genesee County Parks in Flint offers its own magical experience, Christmas at Crossroads, which lets riders enjoy an evening trip on the 1800s Huckleberry Railroad and by streets filled with decorations celebrating Christmas past.Jalen Williams, Detroit Free Press, 25 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
The night starts off lightheartedly enough with aggrieved vice-principal Mr. Pearson calling 9-1-1 to demand firefighters extinguish the bag of flaming dog poop on his porch.Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2024
-
After pulling up his camera on Hart Prairie, Richardson reported leaves this year are a duller orange-brown rather than a flaming yellow.Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 23 Oct. 2024
Verb
-
Have both deceived themselves about their ambitions, their desires, their essential natures?Sara Holdren, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2024
-
Decisions made in good faith leave you vulnerable to being deceived as the moon clashes with Neptune.USA TODAY, USA TODAY, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
In simple terms, your kids are consuming too much junk food.Fred Sassani, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
-
Yes, but: The share of Americans who consume news and talk about social issues either in person or online has been steadily decreasing over the last few years, the report found.Alex Fitzpatrick, Axios, 20 Nov. 2024
Noun
-
The property is nestled between a brook and a horse pasture.Ginny Monk, Hartford Courant, 9 Mar. 2024
-
Or might the brook be angry, like a poltergeist deranged by degradation, indignity, and concealment?Cheri Lucas Rowlands, Longreads, 30 Oct. 2024
Verb
-
Are the primordial organic molecules in those clouds lost in the early days of a new solar system, blasted apart as young stars blaze to life?Elise Cutts, Quanta Magazine, 13 Nov. 2024
-
Memories of deadly 2011 fire Sunday's fire ignited some of the same land that burned in the devastating Bastrop County Complex Fire, which blazed through 34,000 acres, destroyed nearly 1,700 homes and killed two people from September to October 2011.Bianca Moreno-Paz, Austin American-Statesman, 4 Nov. 2024
Articles Related to burn
Thesaurus Entries Near burn
Cite this Entry
“Burn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burn. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share