Smoulder
verb /ˈsməʊldə/ — To burn slowly without flame; to conceal intense feeling.
Definition
To burn slowly with smoke but without flame; to show a suppressed or concealed emotion — especially intense desire, anger, or jealousy that has not found direct expression.
Beyond the definition
Smouldering is the quality of feeling that refuses the outlet of expression — contained fire, controlled desire. The smouldering look is the look that communicates everything through the suppression of communication. It is more powerful than the open declaration precisely because it is controlled: the suggestion of a fire that has not been allowed to become flame.
Origin & history
From Old English smorian (to smother, suffocate). The connection between smothering and burning slow — the fire deprived of air that burns slowly and continuously rather than blazing and dying.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
She had been smouldering with resentment for months before the conversation finally happened.
There was something smouldering in his expression that the politeness of his words could not entirely conceal.
The smouldering attraction between them became the room's primary reality.
How to use it
This entry uses a verb. Follow the examples for tense and any objects or prepositions it needs.
Choose “Smoulder” when the meaning fits your context: To burn slowly with smoke but without flame; to show a suppressed or concealed emotion — especially intense desire, anger, or jealousy that has not found direct expression.
Synonyms
simmer, burn slowly, suppress, contain
Antonyms
blaze, erupt, express
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
Partner Watching With Quiet Tension
One person chooses a coat before a mirror while their partner stands quietly behind, watching with an expectant, somber expression.
This scene illustrates the nuance of 'smouldering' as a state of suppressed emotion, such as jealousy or longing, that remains concealed beneath a calm exterior, manifesting only as watchful internal tension.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Smoulder" mean?
Smoulder is verb meaning: To burn slowly without flame; to conceal intense feeling.. To burn slowly with smoke but without flame; to show a suppressed or concealed emotion — especially intense desire, anger, or jealousy that has not found direct expression.
Where does the word "Smoulder" come from?
From Old English smorian (to smother, suffocate). The connection between smothering and burning slow — the fire deprived of air that burns slowly and continuously rather than blazing and dying.