as in to anger
to make angry
finding yet another mistaken charge on his hospital bill really steamed him up
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Recent Examples of steam up
Since cool air can't hold as much moisture as warm air, more of the water will go down the drain instead of steaming up your bathroom mirror.
—
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 18 Feb. 2026
There’s fitness classes, and then there’s fitness classes that go all out to ‘90s hip-hop and bounce music at Crescent Park while ships steam up the Mississippi River.
—Outside, 17 Feb. 2026
Heated Rivalry's love story steamed up the ice in locales around the globe, and is just in time for the 2026 Winter Olympics, where there's no shortage of hockeymania.
—Laura Fiengo, Vanity Fair, 13 Feb. 2026
This is to the benefit of Calva’s Teddy and Camila Morrone’s Roxana, who steam up the screen at every opportunity.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 17 Jan. 2026
In January 1899, the American gunboat USS Wilmington set out on an expedition to Venezuela, steaming up the Orinoco River toward the country’s interior.
—Nathan Hodge, CNN Money, 10 Jan. 2026
On Valentine’s Day weekend, a fresh take on Brontë’s Wuthering Heights with Jacob Elordi and Margot Robbie is set to steam up screens.
—Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 29 Dec. 2025
Halle Bailey and Regé-Jean Page are gearing up to steam up the screen in a romantic comedy that promises fun twists, turns and some terribly good-looking people.
—Janine Rubenstein, PEOPLE, 14 Nov. 2025
So why does this change have me a little, well, steamed up?
—Vivek Astvansh, The Conversation, 14 Oct. 2025
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 18 Feb. 2026
There’s fitness classes, and then there’s fitness classes that go all out to ‘90s hip-hop and bounce music at Crescent Park while ships steam up the Mississippi River.
—Outside, 17 Feb. 2026
Heated Rivalry's love story steamed up the ice in locales around the globe, and is just in time for the 2026 Winter Olympics, where there's no shortage of hockeymania.
—Laura Fiengo, Vanity Fair, 13 Feb. 2026
This is to the benefit of Calva’s Teddy and Camila Morrone’s Roxana, who steam up the screen at every opportunity.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 17 Jan. 2026
In January 1899, the American gunboat USS Wilmington set out on an expedition to Venezuela, steaming up the Orinoco River toward the country’s interior.
—Nathan Hodge, CNN Money, 10 Jan. 2026
On Valentine’s Day weekend, a fresh take on Brontë’s Wuthering Heights with Jacob Elordi and Margot Robbie is set to steam up screens.
—Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 29 Dec. 2025
Halle Bailey and Regé-Jean Page are gearing up to steam up the screen in a romantic comedy that promises fun twists, turns and some terribly good-looking people.
—Janine Rubenstein, PEOPLE, 14 Nov. 2025
So why does this change have me a little, well, steamed up?
—Vivek Astvansh, The Conversation, 14 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for steam up
Verb
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Imagine the type of conviction Jon-Eric Sullivan must have in Kadyn Proctor to have his first-round selection disappoint, if not anger most of his South Florida fan base?—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
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Trump faces record-low approval ratings, while Washington’s war on Iran, which has sent US gasoline prices spiking, has further angered voters.—
Jeronimo Gonzalez,
semafor.com,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Hart’s stance infuriated some of his liberal supporters and sparked a Michigan recall petition to oust him from the Senate.—
John T. Shaw,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
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Genuine labor advocates are infuriated by its decline, which has proceeded under Republican and Democratic administrations alike.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The culmination of the story is Michael revealing on stage that this would be the Jacksons' last show together, enraging his father Joe Jackson (Colman Domingo).—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2026
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Lyman said the amount of grief had shocked and enraged her.—
Ariane Lange,
Sacbee.com,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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As a matter of fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if the president doesn’t get annoyed with him once or twice.—
NBC news,
NBC news,
26 Apr. 2026
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Maybe annoyed enough to fix it.—
Nathan Edwards,
The Verge,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Steam up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/steam%20up. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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