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

Synonyms & Similar Words
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
The man did not make any statements before going up in flames, cops said. — Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 28 Aug. 2026 Ultimately, the pair didn’t make it to the altar, but Taylor’s 66 love letters to her first flame were auctioned off upon her passing in 2011. — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 28 Aug. 2026
Verb
There are not a lot of good places to have a classic steakhouse experience in Oakland – with a stylish and luxurious atmosphere, sizzle and smoke of a flaming grill, true reverence for meat. — John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 28 July 2026 Those fans completely lost their minds just a few minutes in when Gosling was unveiled as the MCU's Ghost Rider, the flaming motorcycle rider previously portrayed by Nicolas Cage. — Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 28 July 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
  • Somewhere in the city is his former high school sweetheart, Dallas Bryan (Agudong), who is building her new career, chasing her dreams, and not looking back.
    — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 25 Aug. 2026
  • America’s sweetheart Dolly Parton sadly died on Tuesday, August 25, at age 80.
    — Allison DeGrushe, StyleCaster, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of sweetheart
Verb
  • For a bold and vibrant fall hair transformation, consider colors with warm tones that add depth and glow to your look.
    — Alyssa Rotunno, InStyle, 27 Aug. 2026
  • On Broadway, these glow like amber beacons, alas offering a respite from the darkness that best serves what Holloway and Barrett are trying to do.
    — Chris Jones, New York Daily News, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of glow
Verb
  • One person was killed and at least 14 others were injured after gunfire erupted at a large gathering at a park on Chicago's South Side while police were attempting to disperse the crowd, authorities said.
    — Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026
  • But weeks later, Miller, like the rest of us, watched from afar as Kabul fell and chaos erupted.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of erupt
Verb
  • Fans of Dolly Parton have erected a memorial at the legendary singer-songwriter’s star on Nashville’s Music City Walk of Fame, placing flowers, cards and candles that continue to burn into the morning hours.
    — Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026
  • At least five structures are known to have been burned, and additional damage assessments are expected to be conducted later Tuesday today.
    — Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of burn
Verb
  • Among the rows of gleaming cars was a 1972 Chevy El Camino in Aztec gold, shown by owner Bob Barnes of Highland Park.
    — Karie Angell Luc, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2026
  • In front of the Jabara family, the turquoise waters of Torch Lake gleamed alluringly in the July heat.
    — Rozina Ali, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of gleam
Noun
  • The company adds some 30 to 60 movies to its catalog annually, most of them lost gems of world cinema, festival-circuit darlings, or old Hollywood hits.
    — Sophia Nguyen, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Small Prophets follows Quigley as the eccentric Michael Sleep (Quigley), an ordinary man who, since his darling Clea disappeared seven years ago, has worked in a DIY store, while visiting his elderly dad Brian (Palin) and hoping for Clea to return.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of darling
Verb
  • The fourth-year pro with blazing speed had an impressive training camp and appeared to be one of the team’s main kick returners.
    — Josh Kendall, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • At liftoff, Falcon Heavy blazed off the pad at LC-39A, roaring with the thunder of 21 Merlin 1D engines on the business end of the SpaceX triple-booster launch vehicle.
    — Josh Dinner, Space.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of blaze
Verb
  • That explodes into action in one startlingly seedy scene involving a rape in full view of revelers at a hotel party.
    — Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 30 Aug. 2026
  • That was the moment a suicide bomb exploded just outside Abbey Gate on August 26th, killing 13 American service members and more than 160 Afghan civilians.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 30 Aug. 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 1 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on flame

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about flame

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