What does smoldering mean?
Smoldering means burning slowly, usually with smoke and without a strong visible flame. The word can describe embers, a dying fire, or material that continues to give off heat and smoke. It also has a well-established figurative use for anger, resentment, or dislike that is being held back. In phrases such as “smoldering anger,” the imagery suggests emotion that has not erupted but remains dangerously present. Smoldering is especially useful when an event is neither a full blaze nor completely over: a fire may smolder quietly, while a dispute or personal hostility smolders until it is expressed or resolved. The American spelling omits the “u” found in British smouldering, but the pronunciation and core meanings remain closely related. As an adjective, smoldering commonly modifies anger, resentment, fire, and embers; as a verb, it describes slow, smoky burning or figuratively restrained anger.
Burning slowly with smoke and little or no visible flame; figuratively, filled with restrained anger, resentment, or hostility.
"The dispute left a smoldering sense of injustice among the workers."
The figurative adjective commonly appears before words such as anger, resentment, hatred, and tension.
To burn slowly with smoke and little visible flame; figuratively, to harbor or express restrained anger or resentment.
"The old boards smoldered in the uncovered corner of the building."
The figurative use suggests continuing but suppressed emotion rather than an immediate outburst.
Smoldering can describe both a fire barely making headway and a grudge that refuses to go out.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does smoldering come from?
Smoldering is formed from smolder with the present-participle ending -ing. Smolder traces to Middle English forms such as smolderen, meaning “to burn slowly,” and was ultimately borrowed from Dutch. Modern English developed smolder and smoulder as spelling variants, with smolder becoming standard in American English and smoulder remaining the usual British spelling.
How smoldering is actually used
In American English, smolder and smoldering are standard; British English usually uses smoulder and smouldering. The figurative sense suggests anger or resentment that has been restrained rather than openly expressed. The literal sense does not necessarily imply an active flame.
Easily confused with smoldering
Soldering joins metals with a heated filler material, whereas smoldering means burning slowly with smoke and little visible flame.