Smoldering
adjective /ˈsməʊl.dər.ɪŋ/ — Burning slowly; suppressed intensity or passion
Definition
Burning slowly without flame — or of a person, showing suppressed anger, passion, or desire that is all the more powerful for not being openly expressed.
Beyond the definition
The intensity that never quite ignites. A smoldering look, a smoldering grievance — both suggest something that has been burning for a long time and has not finished.
Origin & history
From Middle English 'smolderen' (to burn slowly). Related to Dutch 'smeulen'. Fire that burns without the drama of flame — which is often more dangerous than fire that declares itself.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
He gave her a smoldering look that said everything his words had been careful not to.
The dispute had been smoldering for years before it finally ignited into open conflict.
There is something more compelling about smoldering than burning — the restraint suggests depth.
How to use it
This entry uses an adjective. Follow the examples for the nouns it describes and its position in the sentence.
Choose “Smoldering” when the meaning fits your context: Burning slowly without flame — or of a person, showing suppressed anger, passion, or desire that is all the more powerful for not being openly expressed.
Synonyms
simmering, seething, brooding, suppressed, intense
Antonyms
blazing, extinguished, cold
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Suppressed Internal Conflict
Two people at a table engage in an intense disagreement, with one gesturing angrily while the other raises a hand for pause.
The heated, silent tension clearly shows a powerful anger that is suppressed rather than erupting into noise. It illustrates how passion can burn intensely without needing to be openly expressed to be felt by everyone nearby.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Smoldering" mean?
Smoldering is adjective meaning: Burning slowly; suppressed intensity or passion. Burning slowly without flame — or of a person, showing suppressed anger, passion, or desire that is all the more powerful for not being openly expressed.
Where does the word "Smoldering" come from?
From Middle English 'smolderen' (to burn slowly). Related to Dutch 'smeulen'. Fire that burns without the drama of flame — which is often more dangerous than fire that declares itself.