- 1[intransitive] to burn slowly without a flame The bonfire was still smoldering the next day. a smoldering cigarette (figurative) The feud smoldered on for years.
Want to learn more?
Find out which words work together and produce more natural sounding English with the Oxford Collocations Dictionary app.
- 2[intransitive] (formal) to be filled with a strong emotion that you do not fully express synonym burn smolder (with something) His eyes smoldered with anger. smolder (in something) Anger smoldered in his eyes.
smolder
verbNAmE//ˈsmoʊldər//
Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they smolder he / she / it smolders past simple smoldered -ing form smolderingCheck pronunciation: smolder