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
Candle warmer lamps in particular are being positioned as flame-free ambiance for daily use rather than as gift-shop items, and heated throws are showing up in reading-and-movie-night framings rather than purely as cold-weather gear. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 30 Sep. 2026 Starship tipped over and erupted in flames upon splashdown, a dramatic end to the mission. — Arkansas Online, 29 Sep. 2026
Verb
For one thing, the flaming robot arms also kept smashing into things. — Jesse Coburn, ProPublica, 12 Aug. 2026 Even Miami locals are guilty of thinking a tiny little cap will effectively shield their faces from the wrath of the flaming Florida sun. — Mariana Zapata, Travel + Leisure, 10 Aug. 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
  • On the other side of the river lies my sandbank, where my dark-skinned sweetheart with the heron-beak nose sits.
    — Sanat Pai Raikar, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Oct. 2026
  • For every couple who were childhood best friends or high school sweethearts, there’s another who didn’t cross paths until much later in life.
    — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of sweetheart
Verb
  • Acupressure targets specific points, including spots roughly a finger’s length below your pupils and beside your nose, which NuFace says can promote a glowing complexion by improving circulation.
    — Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Frøya takes a botanical route to glow and tone instead, leaning on sea buckthorn and rosehip instead.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of glow
Verb
  • Prosecutors argued Martin and Payton were armed gang members who participated in a confrontation with rivals that erupted into gunfire on a crowded downtown street as nightclubs closed.
    — Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2026
  • The Vikings erupted for 21 fourth-quarter points, turning what had looked like a rout into a one-possession game.
    — D’Joumbarey Moreau, Miami Herald, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of erupt
Verb
  • Oura might not be under the same pressure to access capital as a cash-burning startup.
    — Morgan Chittum, Fortune, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The scene is a sensory one, with layered cowhide rugs, leather armchairs, a wood-burning fire, and twinkling chandeliers that were original to the Pulitzers’ home.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of burn
Verb
  • That's particularly true at steakhouse Intrepid and open-air cantina 16o9—both of which are set above the harbor for incredible sunsets and clear views of the gleaming white super yachts.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • All this may be hard to imagine in the gleaming China of today.
    — Carl Minzner, Foreign Affairs, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of gleam
Noun
  • Our favorite dress picks have a variety of styles and versatile features, like darling ruffles, cinching waistlines, and trending silhouettes.
    — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Oct. 2026
  • There’s his drop-dead gorgeous spouse, a huge welcoming home, darling children, and a pillar-of-the-community job that gives him a clean conscience.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of darling
Verb
  • The Bouquet fire grows in Angeles National Forest The fire is blazing amid soaring heat across Southern California that has sent temperatures 15 to 20 degrees above normal.
    — Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026
  • After rising into the 90s last week, Sacramento topped out with a blazing high of 99 degrees on Saturday, while other parts of the Central Valley breached 100 degrees (looking at you Redding).
    — Sean Macaday, Sacbee.com, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of blaze
Verb
  • As a child of parents who bred him to be the next Green Lantern, John knows full well the conflict between conscience and instinct, a ceaseless war that threatens to explode to the surface.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Video circulating on social media showed a drone striking the bridge and exploding as vehicles crossed.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 5 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 9 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on flame

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about flame

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