burn away

Reduce to nothing

To burn away is to be consumed or destroyed by fire or heat until nothing remains: The morning fog burned away by noon, Years of buildup had burned away, leaving clean metal.

The phrase often describes gradual elimination—flames burning away underbrush, or figuratively, time burning away illusions or pretense.

dissipate

evaporate

Transition to gaseous state

fadeLose intensity gradually
dissolveDisperse into liquid
vanishCease to be visible

disappear · dissipate · wither · erode · recede · diminish · wane · melt · sublimate · vaporize

consume

incinerate

Burn to nothing

destroyCause complete ruin
obliterateDestroy all traces of
eradicateDestroy completely, utterly

annihilate · devour · decimate · scorch · char · sear · combust · smolder · blaze · ignite

eliminate

purge

Eliminate unwanted elements

removeTake something away
clearWithout obstruction or fog
expungeDelete entirely, officially

erase · strip · cleanse · shed · slough off · exfoliate · scrub · scour · abrade · wear down

Opposites

combustion/destruction process

burn awaypreserve

Protect from loss

conserve · protect · retain · maintain · save

fire control

burn awayextinguish

End combustion forcibly

put out · douse · smother · quench · snuff out

accumulation/reduction

burn awaybuild up

Grow by increments

accumulate · accrete · amass · pile up · gather

Family

burn, away, burns, burned, burning, burner, burners, burnout, sunburn

Familiarity: Top 50,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G