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
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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
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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
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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 creek
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of burn
Sydney Lake, Fortune, 27 Apr. 2026
Last year, clashes between farmers and herders in southwestern Chad left 42 people dead and several homes burned.
—ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026
Lizzie Johnson, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2026
The suspension of burn permits does not apply to campfires within organized campgrounds or on private property.
—City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for burn
Verb
Spirit Airlines may have only days to secure a lifeline, but multimillionaire investor and Shark Tank star Kevin O’Leary thinks Washington should let the budget carrier crash and burn.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 27 Apr. 2026
Last year, clashes between farmers and herders in southwestern Chad left 42 people dead and several homes burned.
—ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026
Noun
Once outside, Nataliia slid into the back of an ambulance and was rushed to the nearest burn center.
—Lizzie Johnson, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2026
The suspension of burn permits does not apply to campfires within organized campgrounds or on private property.
—City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for burn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burn
Verb
-
The chickens slowly turn as glowing flames lap at their skin.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
-
ServiceNow, meanwhile, is doing everything right—almost every revenue and profitability metric glowed in its latest quarterly results—and yet shares took a 14% dive as the SaaSpocalypse fears loom.—
John Kell,
Fortune,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Yet even a disappointing ruling at the high court doesn’t mean the MAHA movement is defeated or should completely go scorched earth on the administration.—
Mabinty Quarshie,
The Washington Examiner,
26 Apr. 2026
-
The Blazers could not hold on after building a 65-59 halftime lead, an edge built by shooting a scorching 10-of-21 from 3-point range.—
Christian Clark,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
That is a steaming hot pile of garbage.—
Austin Perry OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Dinners take place in traditional nomad tents around the communal fire pit, and range from steaming hot pots with yak meat, mushrooms and tofu to haute-Tibetan tasting menus with wild vegetables in corn foam, tsampa grissini, and lamb shoulder with yak yogurt glaze and salsa verde.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
For an appetizer, choose from among kale soup, flaming chourico, shrimp in garlic sauce, steamed clams or five other options.—
Linda Zavoral,
Mercury News,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Alvarez awoke Sunday leading the majors in slugging, OPS and home runs, a flaming core at the heart of a cooling lineup.—
Matt Kawahara,
Houston Chronicle,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This intent to deceive constituents has been obvious since February.—
U T Editorial Board,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Rashid deceived Padikkal with a perfect googly while Kohli dragged jason Holder’s slower ball onto his stumps.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
That’s why David Gallo’s setting, a vista of a fragile boarding house nearly consumed by the rising, sun-blotting, industrial landscape of Pittsburgh, works so effectively here.—
Chris Jones,
New York Daily News,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Investigators suspect one Georgia fire was sparked when an aluminum party balloon touched live power lines; that blaze has consumed 50 square miles, twice Manhattan’s size.—
Emilie Megnien,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Zipping through old-growth spruce forests and even across frozen creeks on snowmobiles.—
Condé Nast Traveler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Apr. 2026
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The roughly $16 million effort aims to reduce incidents where heavy rain causes raw sewage — including fecal matter — to overflow into local creeks and streams.—
Sofi Zeman,
Kansas City Star,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
After some chit-chat aboard a space station, all hell breaks loose when a bunch of mercenaries come in guns blazing.—
Fran Ruiz,
Space.com,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Two children watch him from behind while, in one sliver of the background on the top left side of the picture, a blazing red sunset overruns the sky.—
Daniel Cassady,
ARTnews.com,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Burn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burn. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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