smoulder: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Literary
Quick answer
What does “smoulder” mean?
to burn slowly with smoke but no flame, often internally.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
to burn slowly with smoke but no flame, often internally.
To be present but not fully expressed or active, often with a sense of suppressed intensity or emotion (e.g., anger, passion, resentment).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The spelling 'smoulder' is standard in UK English. In US English, the standard spelling is 'smolder'. No difference in meaning or usage.
Connotations
Slightly more common in literary contexts in both varieties. The word carries the same connotations of hidden intensity.
Frequency
Low frequency in everyday spoken language, more common in written texts in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “smoulder” in a Sentence
Subject + smoulder (intransitive)Subject + smoulder + with + Noun (e.g., anger)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “smoulder” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The bonfire continued to smoulder long into the night.
- Resentment had begun to smoulder within the community.
- Her dark eyes seemed to smoulder with a hidden intensity.
American English
- The campfire was left to smolder until morning.
- A sense of injustice smoldered in his heart for years.
- The conflict smoldered for months before finally erupting.
adverb
British English
- The fire burned smoulderingly in the grate. (Rare/poetic)
American English
- The coals glowed smolderingly in the dark. (Rare/poetic)
adjective
British English
- He gave her a smouldering look across the crowded room. (participle adj.)
American English
- She portrayed the character with smoldering intensity. (participle adj.)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. May describe a persistent, low-level problem (e.g., 'smouldering discontent among the workforce').
Academic
Used in literary analysis, psychology, or history to describe latent emotions or conflicts (e.g., 'the smouldering tensions of the pre-war era').
Everyday
Infrequent. Used for describing fires/embers or metaphorically for suppressed feelings.
Technical
In firefighting/combustion science: a slow, flameless form of combustion.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “smoulder”
- Using it as a transitive verb (e.g., 'He smouldered the fire' – INCORRECT).
- Confusing it with 'smolder' (US spelling) and thinking they are different words.
- Overusing the word in informal contexts.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, its primary meaning is about slow, flameless burning, but it is very commonly used metaphorically for strong, suppressed emotions like anger, passion, or resentment.
Both can describe suppressed emotions. 'Simmer' suggests being just below boiling point and is more about controlled anger. 'Smoulder' emphasizes a slower, hotter, more persistent internal burning, often with a sense of potential eruption and is more literary.
Rarely. The noun form is almost non-existent in modern usage. You would use 'smoulder' as a verb or in its participle form as an adjective (e.g., a smouldering look).
No, 'smoulder' is the British English spelling. In American English, the correct and only standard spelling is 'smolder'. Using 'smoulder' in US texts would be marked as a spelling error.
to burn slowly with smoke but no flame, often internally.
Smoulder is usually formal, literary in register.
Smoulder: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsməʊldə(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsmoʊldər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A smouldering look/glance”
- “A smouldering ruin”
- “Smouldering resentment”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'SMoke + shOULDER' – smoke rising from a shoulder where anger or fire is buried.
Conceptual Metaphor
EMOTION/ANGER IS FIRE (A suppressed emotion is a fire that smoulders).
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'smoulder' (or 'smolder') CORRECTLY?