smoulder
Burn without flame
To smoulder is to burn slowly without flame, producing smoke and heat: The campfire smouldered through the night.
The word extends to emotions held in check but ready to ignite—smouldering resentment, smouldering tension.
A smouldering look conveys intense, suppressed desire or anger.
Also spelled smolder.
Intense wanting
- lustIntense carnal appetite
- ardorIntense emotional warmth
- longingIntense, persistent desire
- fervorIntense emotional intensity
burning · attraction · yearning · infatuation · sensuality · eroticism · chemistry · tension
Intense hostile emotion
- bitternessSharp, unpleasant taste or feeling
- grudgePersistent resentment toward someone
- festeringBecoming infected, decaying
- brewingBeverage preparation process
simmering · suppressed · bottled · seething · unspoken · lingering · harbored · tension
Strength or force level
- eyesOrgans of sight
- stareProlonged fixed gaze
- broodingAnxiously dwelling on something
- sultryHot, humid, or alluring
seductive · piercing · dark · heated · longing · desire · magnetic · hypnotic
Burned or burning carbon
- ashCombustion's powdery remains
- cindersPartly burned coal pieces
- charBurn without destroying
- glowingGiving off steady light
fireplace · dying · warmth · flameless · residue · blackened · smoky · banked
Flow beneath the surface
- dormantInactive but capable
- suppressedForcibly held down
- brewingBeverage preparation process
- nascentBeginning to develop
beneath · hidden · potential · quiescent · incipient · unreleased · building · waiting
Starting combustion process
- combustionExothermic reaction with oxygen
- heatTransferred thermal energy
- oxidizeCombine with oxygen
- thermalPertaining to warmth
flammable · spontaneous · kindling · pyrolysis · combustible · peat · underground · creeping
desire
Intense wanting
fervor · burning · attraction · yearning · infatuation · sensuality · eroticism · chemistry · tension · heat
anger
Intense hostile emotion
- bitternessSharp, unpleasant taste or feeling
- grudgePersistent resentment toward someone
- festeringBecoming infected, decaying
brewing · simmering · suppressed · bottled · seething · unspoken · lingering · harbored · tension · hostility
intensity
Strength or force level
sultry · seductive · piercing · dark · heated · longing · desire · magnetic · hypnotic · sidelong
coals
Burned or burning carbon
glowing · fireplace · dying · warmth · flameless · residue · blackened · smoky · banked · hot
undercurrent
Flow beneath the surface
- dormantInactive but capable
- suppressedForcibly held down
- brewingBeverage preparation process
nascent · beneath · hidden · potential · quiescent · incipient · unreleased · building · waiting · threatening
ignition
Starting combustion process
- combustionExothermic reaction with oxygen
- heatTransferred thermal energy
- oxidizeCombine with oxygen
thermal · flammable · spontaneous · kindling · pyrolysis · combustible · peat · underground · creeping · spreading