flame 1 of 2

noun

ˈflām How to pronounce flame (audio)
Definition of flamenext
as in sweetheart
a person with whom one is in love decided to look up an old flame while she was in town

Synonyms & Similar Words

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flame

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to glow
to be on fire especially brightly guests gathered around as the Yule log flamed brightly in the inn's great stone fireplace

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2
as in to erupt
to develop suddenly and violently my anger flamed when the usher told my friend to shut up

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3
as in to burn
to shine with a bright harsh light the noonday sun flamed down on the desert travelers

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4
as in to gleam
to shoot forth bursts of light the actress's ruby necklace flamed dazzlingly under the bright lights

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of flame
Noun
Firefighters were able to extinguish the flames and observed an unidentified driver who was deceased at the scene. — Bryan Lynn, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026 That’s not because Crystal soft-pedals the emotional horror of returning to your home to find charred remains after watching, helpless, as flames took the locus of all your best memories. — Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026
Verb
Meanwhile, a user named dedsheeran captioned a video of a flaming car accident with links to several organizations providing aid in Palestine, including Gaza Soup Kitchen, UNRWA, the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, and Doctors Without Borders. — Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Sep. 2026 The storefront, gaping and charred, looked like someone had taken a bulldozer and pushed flaming cars inside. — Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 8 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for flame
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flame
  1. sweetheart
  2. glow
  3. erupt
  4. burn
  5. gleam
  6. darling
  7. blaze
  8. explode
Noun
  • Hannah Mullin and Sean McConnell are true childhood sweethearts.
    — Shelby Wax, Vogue, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The Pittsburgh native turned the page on his high school sweetheart Nomi Leasure and entered new dating territory, a relationship with Ariana Grande, which started to percolate in early 2016.
    — Michael Saponara, Billboard, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of sweetheart
Verb
  • At night, the Sycamore trees glow with lantern light, inviting guests to indulge in late night cocktails and conversation.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026
  • With glowing bats, spiders and eyes, the lights accent the historic home with just the right touch.
    — Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of glow
Verb
  • As dusk fell Saturday, violence erupted at the end of some of the 289 protests counted by the Interior Ministry nationwide.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Dorgham Halasa told the AP that intense gunfire erupted in the church some 15 minutes after the funeral service began.
    — James Cirrone, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of erupt
Verb
  • Neurons are closer to Formula One race cars than to family sedans, burning fuel at a furious rate and threatening to blow up at any moment.
    — Rowan Jacobsen, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Wall Street analysts are trying to discern whether Big Tech will continue to burn cash or not.
    — John Towfighi, CNN Money, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of burn
Verb
  • There’s a gleaming hospital and a string of new downtown spots to supplement The Bar, the beloved dive that was supposedly among the inspirations for the Patch Café in the TV series Landman, which is set here.
    — Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 22 Oct. 2026
  • In others, the walls are paneled in a gleaming hardwood, which sets off the furniture, upholstered in black and dark-gray velvets.
    — Kim Velsey, Curbed, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of gleam
Noun
  • Today, the Mexico City GP is recognized as one of the Formula 1 circuit’s intercontinental darlings.
    — Alan Chazaro, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Perhaps these Brewers aren’t some small-market darling, after all.
    — Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of darling
Verb
  • Officers will come running toward the vehicle and its radio’s GPS signal, lights and sirens blazing.
    — Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 26 Oct. 2026
  • On July 2, 2025, a burst with energy equivalent to 1,000 suns blazing for 10 billion years lit up Fermi’s detectors, heading from a dusty galaxy about eight billion light-years from Earth.
    — Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of blaze
Verb
  • Riley then capped the game with just over 6 minutes left, hitting the outside lane to explode for a 72-yard touchdown run and the final 31-10 lead.
    — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Blue dials have been a favorite among watchmakers (and collectors) for decades, but the sheer variety of hues coming out of Switzerland has exploded in recent years.
    — Robb Report, Robb Report, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of explode

Phrases Containing flame

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flamboyantly
flame
flamed
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Cite this Entry

“Flame.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flame. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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