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
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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 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
Kelly Burch Published, Verywell Health, 2 July 2025
Advertisement The tree rings showing scars from low-intensity fires stopped in the 19th Century, when settlers took over and banned traditional burns.
—Stephen Maher, Time, 2 July 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
Crying can leave you relieved or exhausted, but does crying burn calories?
—Kelly Burch Published, Verywell Health, 2 July 2025
Advertisement The tree rings showing scars from low-intensity fires stopped in the 19th Century, when settlers took over and banned traditional burns.
—Stephen Maher, Time, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for burn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burn
Verb
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Her primary function seems to be solely to wear a tight, glowing suit and look concerned.—
Jordan Hoffman,
EW.com,
9 July 2025
-
Bio-Oil has also received glowing reviews from more than one mama.—
Erin Bunch,
Glamour,
9 July 2025
Verb
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Lessons learned from wildfires that scorched local canyon communities in the recent past — the Coastal fire, the Aliso fire and the Bond fire — were pulled in and law enforcement personnel from Pasadena spoke about their experiences in the Eaton fire in January.—
Erika I. Ritchie,
Oc Register,
10 July 2025
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That ridge is currently parked over Arizona, acting like a giant atmospheric lid creating scorching daytime temperatures and warm nights beneath.—
Hayleigh Evans,
AZCentral.com,
9 July 2025
Verb
-
After the rice has steamed, fluff it gently with a fork to separate the grains.—
Robin Miller,
AZCentral.com,
17 July 2025
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There are several ways to prepare peas, including boiling, roasting, sautéing, microwaving, air frying, or steaming.—
Julie Marks,
Verywell Health,
10 July 2025
Verb
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Someone cut a hole in the canvas top and dumped a Molotov cocktail into its soon flaming red interior.—
Marco della Cava,
USA Today,
3 July 2025
-
While his bandmates pranced around the stage with black dildos bobbing from their noses and top hats jauntily cocked, Forrest would open the show in a Joker-esque getup, holding a flaming Bible.—
Brenna Ehrlich,
Rolling Stone,
8 June 2025
Verb
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Step two: Defend against junk fees These nefarious fees are designed either to confuse or deceive consumers.—
Jill Schlesinger,
Mercury News,
7 July 2025
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Several state legislators and other state officials will testify that they were deceived by the conspirators regarding the operations of Phoenix Solutions, according to prosecutors.—
Evan Mealins,
The Tennessean,
2 July 2025
Verb
-
For most people, garlic supplements or garlic pills are a safe and convenient way to consume garlic when taken in the amounts directed.—
Anna Giorgi,
Verywell Health,
14 July 2025
-
The civil penalties can consume the entire balance of an account, so be careful.—
Robert W. Wood,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
Noun
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Nearly 20 homes were cut off in the town of Sutton as a local brook quickly rose from its banks and surrounded buildings, Fire Chief Kyle Seymour said.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
12 July 2025
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But in case the running brooks aren’t meeting your educational needs this summer, here are some suggestions for actual books to tuck into your backpack.—
Alex Hutchinson,
Outside Online,
9 June 2025
Verb
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The Perfect Warm-Up: Ezra Collective Brings the Fire Brit Award and Mercury Prize winning British band Ezra Collective set the stage for Stevie Wonder with an energy-filled, all guns blazing performance full of magical keys, sublime saxophone and dazzling drumming.—
Lee Sharrock,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
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Minutes later, all firefighters had been ordered out of the blazing building as well, the department said.—
Grace Zokovitch,
Boston Herald,
13 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Burn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burn. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
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