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
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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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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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as in creek
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
Charlotte Observer, 9 Nov. 2025
The fire burned as hot as 2,000 degrees and filled the sky with a thick black smoke.
—Andrew Aoyama, The Atlantic, 9 Nov. 2025
Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 9 Jan. 2026
The Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation estimated last year that more than 1,800 small businesses were in the burn zones in Pacific Palisades, Malibu and Altadena, impacting more than 11,000 jobs.
—Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for burn
Verb
While the unit gave up 10 points in the first half, it was only burned by a couple of big plays in coverage.
—Noun
Fire managers carefully monitor prescribed burns and will plan to conduct activities during safest possible burn windows.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for burn
Verb
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But at no time was her skin not glowing through.—
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That's when the stars will really be glowing.—
Verb
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When Liverpool and Arsenal last met, in late August, a scorching late Dominik Szoboszlai free kick saw the reigning champions strike an ominous early blow in the title race, jumping three points ahead of their London rivals.—
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The Panthers, in turn, went 15-1 and then scorched through the playoffs before falling short in the Super Bowl against the Broncos.—
Verb
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Place the bowl inside the microwave and heat on high for around three to four minutes, or until the solution is visibly steaming.—
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One ship was seized Friday in the Caribbean, and others were spotted steaming hundreds of miles into the Atlantic.—
Verb
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The luxury Swiss Alps nightclub where at least 40 people were killed and nearly 120 others were injured in a New Year’s Eve inferno, had previously released a promotional video advertising flaming champagne bottles, which authorities deemed the cause of the tragedy.—
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Finish with a cremaet, Valencian coffee flamed with rum infused with lemon and cinnamon.—
Verb
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To keep the most vulnerable safe, Ivan has to decide to confront the soldiers or deceive them at the potential cost of his life.—
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Relying Too Much On Garbage Disposals Though the name may be deceiving, garbage disposals aren’t actually designed to dispose of all garbage.—
Verb
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His first time on air, and another chance to change how viewers consume the country’s most popular sport, was only minutes away.—
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When possible, consume vitamin A through nutritious foods like carrots, sweet potatoes, liver, and eggs instead of dietary supplements to optimize your health.—
Noun
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The Rock Creek Loop traverses approximately seven miles of ravines, creeks, subtropical forest, and small footbridges.—
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The 40 minute round-trip rolls up the Red Clay Valley, with unobstructed views of moonlit fields, rocky cuts and creek banks.—
Verb
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Lenovo came out all guns blazing at CES 2026, using its biggest global stage yet to signal major leaps across devices, AI, and partnerships.—
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The Bears continue living that chorus out loud, devoted to chasing improvement with the blazing competitive fire exhibited by their head coach.—
Cite this Entry
“Burn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burn. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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