boiling 1 of 2

adjective

ˈbȯi(-ə)-liŋ How to pronounce boiling (audio)
Definition of boilingnext
as in searing
having a notably high temperature it was boiling in that car, and the owners had foolishly left their pet in it

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

boiling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of boil
1
as in steaming
to be excited or emotionally stirred up with anger the passengers were boiling when they found out the flight was delayed yet again

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2
as in stewing
to cook in a liquid heated to the point that it gives off steam boil the potatoes until they are tender before you try to mash them

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3
as in swirling
to be in a state of violent rolling motion the sea boiled and frothed during the storm

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 boiling
Adjective
More humane methods of killing lobsters pre-boiling include a sharp knife through the head, electrical stunning, or freezing. — semafor.com, 29 Dec. 2025 Agrawal and her team studied ionic liquids — salts that are liquid at sub-boiling temperatures (below 212 degrees Fahrenheit, or 100 degrees Celsius) — as a potential hospitable environment for life. — Stefanie Waldek, Space.com, 13 Aug. 2025 One idea is that about a million years after the Big Bang, the universe cooled and underwent a phase transition, an event similar to how boiling water turns liquid into gas. — Yasemin Saplakoglu, Scientific American, 3 Mar. 2020 If candy is still stuck on, pour more boiling water over whatever hasn’t come clean. — Washington Post, 3 Dec. 2019 The simplest fix could be as easy as boiling water—boil a medium-size pot once or twice per week, and pour down the drain. — Country Living Staff, Country Living, 14 Oct. 2019 Although boiling water is always a set temperature, eggs coming from the fridge or countertop are not. — Genevieve Ko, latimes.com, 18 June 2019 Organizers shared tips to help prevent the virus, which include washing hands with soap for more than 30 seconds, eating food that is thoroughly cooked and boiling water before drinking. — Rachel Axon, USA TODAY Sports, 6 Feb. 2018
Verb
Stir into the boiling milk and boil on low heat until thick, stirring all the time. — David Morgan, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026 The utter carnage that follows brings major developments for all the main characters still on the chessboard — and many gruesome deaths by dragon fire, boiling oil, spikes and even catapults. — Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 10 Aug. 2026 However, boiling water from a kettle poses potential damage to PVC pipe fittings and can create leaks that are considerably more expensive to fix than a clogged drain. — Maria Sabella, The Spruce, 4 Aug. 2026 People commonly consume them by processing and boiling them into a tea. — Joy Emeh, Health, 30 July 2026 That’s right, rather than boiling in a separate pot, the pasta cooks right in the skillet, releasing its starches into the broth to create a creamy, glossy sauce. — Marianne Williams, Southern Living, 26 July 2026 Elburn resident Dave Burroughs was charged with overseeing the task of boiling the corn at the fest. — David Sharos, Chicago Tribune, 26 July 2026 Expectation that James would announce his next team soon, boiling for weeks now, became red hot over the weekend. — Joe Vardon, New York Times, 23 July 2026 This is a great pick for anyone who likes their pasta al dente—the combination of semolina and lupini means each noodle retains a satisfying amount of bite after boiling. — Alaina Chou, Bon Appetit Magazine, 21 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for boiling
  1. searing
  2. steaming
  3. stewing
  4. swirling
  5. burning
  6. raging
  7. simmering
  8. churning
Adjective
  • The searing heat wave across Europe has driven the union to call for museums to close when temperatures reach 86 degrees Fahrenheit and to institute heat mitigation measures for back-of-house staff.
    — Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The return journey sends whatever object (or whoever's on board) through our atmosphere at searing speeds and even more searing temperatures.
    — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of searing
Verb
  • Sometimes holding a dispenser over a steaming hot beverage can cause condensation to form around the pouring spout.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 3 Aug. 2026
  • For most proteins and vegetables, grilling, baking, poaching, roasting, and steaming preserve nutrients while adding little to no additional fat or calories.
    — Sarah Anzlovar, Verywell Health, 28 July 2026
Definition of steaming
Verb
  • Idda takes an epic approach to unearthing the packed layers of a stewing friendship.
    — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 21 July 2026
  • Roasting, stewing, baking—those are all great ways to make okra.
    — Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 13 July 2026
Definition of stewing
Verb
  • Without an arrest, swirling suspicions were having their own corrosive effects on Incline Village, resident Michelle Pettibone said.
    — Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 12 Aug. 2026
  • This is called a Balmer break, which generally indicates dense, photon-absorbing gas swirling in the atmospheres of ancient stars.
    — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of swirling
Adjective
  • Prosecutors said some of the money was used for recruiting new members and purchasing Ku Klux Klan robes and materials for cross-burning ceremonies.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 July 2026
  • In the case of the cross-burning incident, there is no comparison to the Jussie Smollett case.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 19 June 2026
Definition of burning
Verb
  • This bit is funny and scary — but not as funny and scary as a bit Knoxville would come up with two films later involving a raging bull.
    — Tim Grierson, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images In late July, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang posted on X for the first time to defend open-source models in artificial intelligence, inserting himself into a debate that was raging across the industry.
    — Kif Leswing, CNBC, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of raging
Verb
  • Within the lab, three current and one former employee told Fortune tensions were already simmering.
    — Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Stir to combine and cook until the tomatoes are simmering, about 1 minute.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of simmering
Verb
  • All of this good fortune heaped a mountain of pressure on Burke, who was then living in Virginia and working as an associate editor at Katie Couric Media, a fast-churning life-style site that traffics primarily in wellness and shopping content.
    — Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Participants will tackle a 5K trail run while churning their own ice cream.
    — Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of churning

Phrases Containing boiling

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boiled over
boiling
boiling down
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Cite this Entry

“Boiling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/boiling. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on boiling

Nglish: Translation of boiling for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about boiling

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