sweltering

1 of 2

adjective

swel·​ter·​ing ˈswel-t(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce sweltering (audio)
Synonyms of swelteringnext
: oppressively hot
swelteringly adverb

sweltering

2 of 2

present participle of swelter entry 1

Synonyms of sweltering

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Adjective

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Examples of sweltering in a Sentence

Adjective the air conditioning was broken, and it was sweltering in the office
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Adjective
High humidity and sweltering heat accelerated decomposition, compounding the challenges as health experts warned that leaving the remains exposed could increase the risk of disease. — ABC News, 30 Aug. 2026 The sweltering Southern California heat couldn’t stop the swarm of music-loving fans from descending upon Irvine’s Great Park Saturday for the inaugural Daisy Chain Fields music festival. — Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 30 Aug. 2026 Daisy Chain Fields arrived on a sweltering summer Saturday, plopped in the middle of Irvine’s suede hills, inside Orange County lines. — Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026 By the time Olivia Rodrigo hit the stage to headline the inaugural Daisy Chain Fields festival, the sun had set on a sweltering day, and anyone who was fading was sure to feel reenergized both from a welcome breeze and from Rodrigo’s set. — Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 30 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sweltering

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1566, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sweltering was in 1566

Rhymes for sweltering

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Browse Nearby Words

swelter
sweltering
swelteringly
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Cite this Entry

“Sweltering.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sweltering. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

sweltering

adjective
swel·​ter·​ing
: very hot
swelteringly adverb
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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