smoulder

/ˈsməʊldə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈsməʊldər/ (ame, ipa)

smoulder — 動詞

  • smoulderpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • smouldershe / she / it
  • smoulderedpast simple
  • smouldering-ing form

1. to burn slowly, giving off smoke but no actual fire — like embers in a fireplace

1.動詞不及物B2
釋義

悶燒

緩慢燃燒冒煙但無火焰

to burn slowly, giving off smoke but no actual fire — like embers in a fireplace that glow red-orange without ever catching into flames

例句

The campfire smouldered through the night, giving off thin grey smoke.

營火整夜悶燒，冒出稀薄的白煙。

A damp log smouldered in the fireplace, never quite catching light.

一根潮濕的木頭在壁爐裡悶燒，始終沒有燃起火焰。

同義詞
  • burn

    broader term; includes flames and faster combustion

  • glow

    focuses on light without smoke; embers glow, fires smoulder

  • smoke

    as a verb, emphasises the smoke produced, not the heat or burning itself

反義詞
  • blaze

    burn with strong, visible flames — the opposite state

  • extinguish

    to put out completely

用法筆記

Describes a slow, flameless burn that produces smoke. The material must still be burning — 'smoulder' is not used for something that has already gone out. Not used for controlled fires like gas stoves or candles.

常見錯誤

❌The fire smouldered out after midnight.
✅The fire smouldered for hours before dying out.
💡'smoulder' means it is still burning; use 'die out' or 'go out' when the fire stops.

2. when a problem, conflict, or dangerous situation continues to exist quietly with

2.動詞不及物C1
釋義

暗湧；醞釀

問題或衝突潛伏且可能惡化

when a problem, conflict, or dangerous situation continues to exist quietly without being dealt with, and may suddenly become much worse at any moment

例句

A pay dispute had been smouldering in the factory for months.

工廠裡的薪資糾紛已經醞釀了好幾個月。

used of disputes and conflicts that remain unresolved

Tensions between the neighbouring villages smouldered long after the ceasefire.

停火之後，鄰近村落之間的緊張關係仍暗湧許久。

同義詞
  • simmer

    very close in meaning; 'simmer' more often suggests something close to boiling over

  • brew

    suggests something is slowly developing, often with negative consequences

  • fester

    stronger negative connotation; implies something is becoming rotten or infected

反義詞
  • resolve

    to settle or fix the problem

  • subside

    to become less intense or disappear

用法筆記

Subject is almost always an abstract conflict, problem, or tension — not a person. Frequently combined with time expressions ('for months', 'for years') to emphasise how long the situation has been left unresolved.

常見錯誤

❌Mr. Chen smouldered with the headteacher.
✅Mr. Chen's disagreement with the headteacher smouldered.
💡sense/2 takes an abstract subject (the problem itself), not a person as the subject.

3. to feel a powerful negative emotion — such as anger, resentment, or jealousy — i

3.動詞不及物C1
釋義

暗藏；壓抑

強烈情緒被克制不表現出來

to feel a powerful negative emotion — such as anger, resentment, or jealousy — intensely on the inside while keeping it hidden from others, so that only a hint of it shows in the eyes or face

例句

Elena smouldered with quiet anger as her brother took all the credit.

Elena 內心壓抑著怒氣，因為弟弟搶走了所有功勞。

smoulder + with + emotion: anger, resentment, jealousy

Jiro's eyes smouldered with jealousy when he saw his rival accept the award.

Jiro 看到對手領獎時，眼裡暗藏著嫉妒。

同義詞
  • seethe

    implies a more active, barely-controlled anger close to bursting out

  • simmer

    similar but less intense; 'simmer with rage' vs 'smoulder with rage'

  • stew

    informal; suggests brooding over something for a long time

反義詞
  • vent

    to express strong emotions openly

  • radiate

    to show feelings clearly and warmly, not suppress them

文法句型

smoulder + with + emotion noun

用法筆記

Only figurative sense where the subject can be a person, or a person's eyes or face. Almost always followed by 'with' and an emotion noun (anger, resentment, jealousy, bitterness). Distinguish from sense/4: this covers general strong emotions, not romantic or sexual feelings.

常見錯誤

❌He smouldered his anger at the meeting.
✅He smouldered with anger throughout the meeting.
💡'smoulder' is intransitive; you cannot smoulder something, you smoulder WITH an emotion.

4. to have intense romantic or sexual feelings for someone and keep them tightly co

4.動詞不及物C1
釋義

暗戀；渴望

強烈情慾被克制在內心

to have intense romantic or sexual feelings for someone and keep them tightly controlled, expressing them only through looks, glances, or a charged silence rather than through words or actions

例句

Across the crowded room, Amara smouldered with an intensity that made him look away.

在擁擠的房間另一頭，Amara 散發著炙熱的渴望，讓他不得不移開目光。

smoulder + with + intensity/desire — romantic tension

The two actors smouldered at each other in every scene of the film.

兩位演員在電影的每一幕都互相投以炙熱的目光。

同義詞
  • yearn

    focuses on the longing itself, without the visual intensity of smouldering

  • pine

    suggests sadness and weakening from unreturned love

  • ache

    emphasises the pain of desire; less visual, more emotional

反義詞
  • declare

    to openly express romantic feelings

  • confess

    to admit feelings directly rather than keeping them hidden

文法句型

smoulder + at + person

smoulder + with + desire/attraction noun

用法筆記

Subject is a person. Often used with 'at' + person, or 'with' + desire/longing/passion. This sense is specifically romantic or sexual — distinguish from sense/3, which covers general strong emotions like anger or resentment. Common in fiction and film descriptions.

常見錯誤

❌The teacher smouldered at the noisy student.
✅The teacher smouldered with anger at the noisy student.' (sense/3)
💡Using 'smoulder at someone' usually implies romantic or sexual attraction (sense/4), not general anger.