1
as in to glow
to be on fire especially brightly
all evening long we just sat there, contentedly watching the Yule log burn
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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
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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
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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
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Example Sentences
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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
Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 May 2025
Not bad for a company that only just did its first underground burn outside of a laboratory this January.
—New Atlas, 29 May 2025
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
Alongside Williams, Sanders saw a healthy amount of burn with the first-team unit today.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 May 2025
Not bad for a company that only just did its first underground burn outside of a laboratory this January.
—New Atlas, 29 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for burn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burn
Verb
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When reached by Vulture to comment on the apparent reference to her case, Carroll had only glowing words about her attorney.—
Victoria Bekiempis,
Vulture,
2 June 2025
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Saturn will glow in the sky to the right, and the sparkly Pleiades star cluster will be visible just to the pair’s left.—
Stephanie Vermillion,
Travel + Leisure,
2 June 2025
Verb
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Child and pet safety: Never forget to safeguard young children and pets by not leaving them unattended in vehicles, especially during scorching weather when car interiors can become life-threateningly hot.—
Bay Area Weather Report,
Mercury News,
31 May 2025
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Despite an evaporated offence, Toronto remained in every game late, except a scorching Sunday at George M. Steinbrenner Field.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
29 May 2025
Verb
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This traditional preparation, symbolic of samurai culture, features two seabreams steamed and served facing each other, often gracing weddings and celebratory occasions.—
Kaila Yu,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2025
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It can be used as a sauce for grain bowls featuring brown rice, spelt, oats, or barley; over legumes such as chickpeas, peas, and beans; and on roasted or steamed vegetables such as fennel, sweet potatoes, or squash.—
Alessandra Signorelli,
Vogue,
31 May 2025
Verb
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The Empire Mica caught on fire, sending giant plumes of black smoke into the air and a massive puddle of flaming oil into the surrounding water.—
Asia London Palomba,
Smithsonian Magazine,
2 June 2025
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Yes, the Savannah Bananas’ brand of baseball is far too outlandish ever to be compared to the major leagues — from flaming baseballs, rump-shaking umps and dress rehearsals.—
Anthony De Leon,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2025
Verb
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Even children who are online only in small doses likely see false or inaccurate information that might deceive them.—
Evan Orticio,
Scientific American,
2 June 2025
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In November, Dove pleaded guilty in Gaston County to a dozen felony charges related to illegally accessing police computer systems and helping someone deceive a polygraph test, The Gaston Gazette reported.—
Julia Coin,
Charlotte Observer,
30 May 2025
Verb
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For example, in 2024, China supplied 70 percent of all lithium-ion batteries consumed in the U.S.—
Elena Bou,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2025
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Soy is a common allergen, and thus the undeclared ingredient could pose a risk to those with a soy allergy who consume the product.—
Rachel Raposas,
People.com,
27 May 2025
Noun
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Adept anglers can fly-fish for them across the varied terrain of the property’s creeks or patrol the marshy perimeters its six Class A lakes for the coveted catch, as well as fellow trout—namely rainbow, brown, and brook–that often exceed 20 inches.—
Alexandra Kirkman,
Robb Report,
29 May 2025
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The quick video opened with footage of a rushing river and rolled to show a closeup of flowering branches, blue bells and an aerial view of a brook.—
Janine Henni,
People.com,
1 May 2025
Verb
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In some ways, these companies are following a path blazed by IBM, which has spent decades supporting marquee events including The Masters, Wimbledon and the US Open Tennis Championship.—
Melody Brue,
Forbes.com,
29 May 2025
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Palladio Rice Paper Facial Blotting Sheets On one blazing hot summer in Tallahassee, one of my best friends showed me the splendor of facial blotting sheets.—
Izzy Baskette,
People.com,
22 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Burn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burn. Accessed 7 Jun. 2025.
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