1
as in glows
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 scorches
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 steams
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 flames
to shine with a bright harsh light
the bright streetlight outside our motel room burned all night long
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in deceives
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 consumes
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 brooks
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
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 burns
Adam Williams
april 23, New Atlas, 23 Apr. 2026
The facility is positioned as a potential model for decarbonizing aviation, which burns roughly 100 billion gallons of jet fuel per year globally.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 22 Apr. 2026
As war burns across England, an army of commoners rises to face the King’s might in a fight for justice and survival, led by Garfield’s protagonist.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 22 Apr. 2026
Fire burns at the site of recycling materials following a Russian strike in Kyiv on Thursday.
—Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 16 Apr. 2026
And for reminding us that our torch still burns.
—Donna Vickroy, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
When the clip concludes, Beth and Rip are seen walking away together while a building burns behind them.
—Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 13 Apr. 2026
This fire burns always The family believes their three-story home used to be apartments long before the fire, with each floor representing a residence.
—Kansas City Star, 12 Apr. 2026
Once all teams give the go-ahead, Integrity will continue along its route, with the help of a few trajectory correction burns along the way to keep the spacecraft precisely on course for splashdown.
—Briana Alvarado, ABC News, 2 Apr. 2026
Stefano Pozzebon, CNN Money, 26 Apr. 2026
Fourteen people reported injuries, and all but one sustained first- or second-degree burns.
—Staff Author, PEOPLE, 25 Apr. 2026
Poudre Fire Authority A firefighter was taken to the hospital with serious burns, Poudre Fire Authority said.
—Jesse Sarles, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026
Reigniting its engines for two braking burns, the booster settled onto the ship for a smoky but on-target touchdown less than 10 minutes after liftoff.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 19 Apr. 2026
At the time of the first recall, Casely received 51 consumer reports of the chargers overheating, expanding or catching on fire while in use, resulting in six minor burns.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2026
Dalis sustained minor burns to his face while battling the blaze.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 17 Apr. 2026
LeVasseur was rescued from the wreckage with severe burns and life-threatening injuries and was treated at Hartford Hospital for six months.
—Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 17 Apr. 2026
Verb
The bathroom is situated next to the kitchen and is notable for having an incinerating toilet – as its name implies, this burns waste to ash.
—Adam Williams
april 23, New Atlas, 23 Apr. 2026
The facility is positioned as a potential model for decarbonizing aviation, which burns roughly 100 billion gallons of jet fuel per year globally.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 22 Apr. 2026
As war burns across England, an army of commoners rises to face the King’s might in a fight for justice and survival, led by Garfield’s protagonist.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 22 Apr. 2026
Fire burns at the site of recycling materials following a Russian strike in Kyiv on Thursday.
—Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 16 Apr. 2026
And for reminding us that our torch still burns.
—Donna Vickroy, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
When the clip concludes, Beth and Rip are seen walking away together while a building burns behind them.
—Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 13 Apr. 2026
This fire burns always The family believes their three-story home used to be apartments long before the fire, with each floor representing a residence.
—Kansas City Star, 12 Apr. 2026
Once all teams give the go-ahead, Integrity will continue along its route, with the help of a few trajectory correction burns along the way to keep the spacecraft precisely on course for splashdown.
—Briana Alvarado, ABC News, 2 Apr. 2026
Noun
The local representative of the national government, Eduardo Pacheco, escalated Casagrande’s request, writing to the Interior Ministry on May 19 to request an exception to carry out preventive burns, BioBíoChile reported.
—Stefano Pozzebon, CNN Money, 26 Apr. 2026
Fourteen people reported injuries, and all but one sustained first- or second-degree burns.
—Staff Author, PEOPLE, 25 Apr. 2026
Poudre Fire Authority A firefighter was taken to the hospital with serious burns, Poudre Fire Authority said.
—Jesse Sarles, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026
Reigniting its engines for two braking burns, the booster settled onto the ship for a smoky but on-target touchdown less than 10 minutes after liftoff.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 19 Apr. 2026
At the time of the first recall, Casely received 51 consumer reports of the chargers overheating, expanding or catching on fire while in use, resulting in six minor burns.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2026
Dalis sustained minor burns to his face while battling the blaze.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 17 Apr. 2026
LeVasseur was rescued from the wreckage with severe burns and life-threatening injuries and was treated at Hartford Hospital for six months.
—Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 17 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burns
Verb
-
Even if other tracks on BASS2 don’t quite rise to the same level, the record glows with new confidence.—
Harry Tafoya,
Pitchfork,
24 Apr. 2026
-
There’s a Mooi wallcovering where extinct animals hide within jungle fauna in one and a freestanding Aura by Antoniolupi sink that glows translucent yellow in the other.—
Sandra Barrera,
Oc Register,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Tucson will also be at or near record temperatures through March 27 as the state’s unprecedented heat wave scorches on, the weather service said.—
Ray Stern,
AZCentral.com,
25 Mar. 2026
-
As the world around them scorches under record heat, a family walks into the woods, asking what the future holds in this thermal dystopia.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
This all comes as the legal fight over the audit steams ahead, over 15 months after 72% of the state signed off on the ballot measure.—
Lance Reynolds,
Boston Herald,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Mile End's Bohème Vintage stocks quality wool and denim, and steams them right behind the counter.—
Charlie Hobbs,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In a statement issued Friday, the commission accused X of using its 'blue checkmark' in a way that deceives users.—
Mary Cunningham,
CBS News,
5 Dec. 2025
-
The fragmentary Ni 12501 tablet from the Early Dynastic III period of Mesopotamia breaks off when Fox deceives the inhabitants of the netherworld in his quest to retrieve the storm god Ishkur.—
Rafil Kroll-Zaidi,
Harpers Magazine,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The reason this is important, says Lab Group Manager for R&D Alok Warey, is because aerodynamic drag consumes a lot of battery energy in EVs—up to 50 percent.—
Kristin Shaw,
Popular Science,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Put simply, food noise consumes your life.—
Alora Bopray,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Insects drone over running brooks.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
The property, which features lush greenery and old-growth trees set among babbling brooks and water features, is open to the public, and the gardens have served as a popular spot for weddings over the decades in addition to an annual Mother’s Day tea that Weston said attracts hundreds each year.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
But when Tiffany gets pregnant with her first child and Carolyn simultaneously sells an essay to The New Yorker, mutual jealousy ignites.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
-
The pilot light is a small flame that ignites the burner to heat the water in the tank.—
Katie Cloyd,
Martha Stewart,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
There’s something about it that rages and burns, especially among young women who process their emotions through melody and melodrama.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
28 Apr. 2026
-
That said, that growth has stalled as the Middle East conflict rages on.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
16 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Burns.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burns. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
