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Definition of boilsnext
plural of boil
as in blisters
a small, inflamed swelling of the skin the dermatologist lanced the infected boil that had formed on the patient's neck

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boils

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of boil
1
as in steams
to be excited or emotionally stirred up with anger the passengers were boiling when they found out the flight was delayed yet again

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2
as in stews
to cook in a liquid heated to the point that it gives off steam boil the potatoes until they are tender before you try to mash them

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3
as in churns
to be in a state of violent rolling motion the sea boiled and frothed during the storm

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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 boils
Noun
Dining at the luxury resort includes 10 on-site options ranging from COAST’s fine dining to lobster boils, casual beach fare and champagne bars. Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 6 Dec. 2025 Baker inquires about the design of the hunchback and hovers his hand above her bulbous boils. J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 26 Sep. 2025 Those include fish boils, something usually associated with Wisconsin’s Door County. Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2025 Bathing daily and keeping your buttocks clean and dry can help prevent boils, folliculitis, and other skin conditions. Sherri Gordon, Health, 14 Aug. 2025
Verb
Its carbon steel boils water quickly, while retaining heat. Isabel Garcia, PEOPLE, 10 Jan. 2026 Keep in mind that a covered pot boils faster than an uncovered one. Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 8 Jan. 2026 Shop our top picks below from $13 with everything from reusable overnight oats jars to portable salad jars for lunch, an electric kettle that boils water in minutes, and a multipurpose air fryer that doubles as a storage solution for leftovers. Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 7 Jan. 2026 Upstairs, a 2,000-square-foot roof deck hosts crawfish boils and live bands in the warmer months. AFAR Media, 30 Dec. 2025 Sand boils form when flowing water contained by a levee pushes down on soil inside the levee with enough force to move water through its interior. Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 23 Dec. 2025 Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and boils. Kelly Brant, Arkansas Online, 16 Dec. 2025 Longer-term, Indomo seeks to tackle conditions including keloids, boils and more via its ClearPen technology. Noor Lobad, Footwear News, 29 Oct. 2025 Gretchen is just as bad as Tamra, two boils on the same hairy ass. Brian Moylan, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for boils
Verb
  • Humidity often corrodes cables and steams camera lenses.
    IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 3 Nov. 2025
  • The clip then smash-cuts to a scene of Bruce as a child listening to his parents fight in the next room, and we’re meant to understand that the joy and power that steams off of the stage is a cure for the pain of childhood wounds.
    Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Droves of Amazon shoppers are also going after this Crock-Pot lunchbox that makes reheating winter soups and stews a breeze at work, as well as this Lego poinsettia that serves as a fun, interactive gift and transforms into decor once it’s built.
    Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 20 Dec. 2025
  • They are joined by new crew stews Joe Caron and Jenna Woudberg, deck/stew Mike Durrant, and deckhands Eddy Hounsell and Betul Yazici.
    Peter White, Deadline, 14 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Harris is one of tens of thousands of Americans killed or injured each year by gun violence, a public health crisis that escalated in the pandemic and churns a new victim into a hospital emergency room every half hour.
    Fred Clasen-Kelly, USA Today, 19 Dec. 2025
  • The uptrend remains in place, for sure, even as the index churns under 6900.
    Michael Santoli, CNBC, 12 Dec. 2025
Noun
  • In fact, one of the most common triggers of rosacea, which is characterized by flushing, swelling, spider veins, papules, and pustules, is exposure to sunlight.
    Sherri Gordon, Health, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Research suggests that pimple patches aren't effective on cystic acne, pustules, or blackheads.
    Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Conflict rages over resources, but people are, for the most part, decent.
    Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2026
  • Then, a police-like force rages through their East Village neighborhood, threatening Renata’s friends, lovers, and the memories of those who have died.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The chicken is perfectly cooked and seasoned by the sticky sweet sauce that simmers over it.
    Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 25 Dec. 2025
  • In the new movie starring Denzel Washington, the camera rollicks, the edit clips at warp speed, and the sound mix explodes in Lee's coruscating New York — but the primordial ethical conflict at its heart simmers the same.
    EW Staff Published, EW.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • To load the product onto the brush, Barnes swirls the tool into the pan twice and taps it twice to prevent fallout.
    Jenny Berg, Vogue, 12 Dec. 2025
  • The lights are dim and jazzy music swirls the intimate crowd.
    Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 10 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The Mighty Patch works to absorb the gunk from pimples and help speed up the healing process.
    Daley Quinn, Glamour, 23 Dec. 2025
  • There are also scarring alopecias, says Goh, which also cause bald spots, often with itching, tenderness and redness, and sometimes pimples on the scalp.
    Sydney Lupkin, NPR, 23 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Boils.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/boils. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.

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