boil 1 of 2

as in blister
a small, inflamed swelling of the skin the dermatologist lanced the infected boil that had formed on the patient's neck

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boil

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to steam
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 to stew
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 to churn
to be in a state of violent rolling motion the sea boiled and frothed during the storm

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Examples 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 boil
Noun
Bring to a boil, scraping to loosen browned bits from bottom of pot. Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 2 Jan. 2025 It’s crafted from lightweight carbon steel that quickly brings water to a boil, which then prompts a single-tone whistle to alert you and your guests that tea is ready to be served. Emily Weaver, People.com, 27 Dec. 2024
Verb
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power also advised people in the Pacific Palisades, north of San Vicente Boulevard, to only use bottled or boiled water for drinking and cooking. Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY, 10 Jan. 2025 Though water service has since sputtered back in some parts of town, officials said on Wednesday that people in Richmond and some surrounding areas would probably need to keep boiling their water at least until Friday. Campbell Robertson, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for boil 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for boil
Noun
  • Small blisters are called vesicles; bigger ones are called bullae.4 4.
    Christopher Bergland, Verywell Health, 17 Jan. 2025
  • The flexible mesh material allows your foot to easily slide into the shoe and stretch, ensuring there’s no break-in period or painful blisters.
    Rylee Johnston, Travel + Leisure, 12 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Get the recipe > Whole Steamed Fish with Tangerine Peel and Fennel Bright citrus and peppery fennel enliven flaky steamed fish in this elegant banquet-table centerpiece.
    Megan Zhang, Saveur, 16 Jan. 2025
  • In the winter, the opening acts like a chimney for the warmer water below, giving the spring a steaming underworld look and its ominous name.
    Kelsey Glennon, Southern Living, 12 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Years of the hyper-competitive Bedard stewing and spinning his wheels.
    Mark Lazerus, The Athletic, 17 Jan. 2025
  • Additional graham crackers, milk chocolate, apple, cinnamon, and stewed rhubarb notes enhance its complexity.
    Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Buffalo was able to stem the tide with a scoring drive of their own that churned four and half minutes off the clock and culminated in a booming 51-yard field goal from Tyler Bass to make the score 24-19 Bills.
    Kevin Dotson, CNN, 19 Jan. 2025
  • While Washington politics churn on, their homes continue to sink and runoff drowns their generational wealth.
    Jared Kofsky, ABC News, 17 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Plants with orange rust, identified by orange pustules on the leaves, must be burned or disposed of in the trash.
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 20 Jan. 2025
  • Along with his obesity amd high blood pressure, Henry suffered from painful venous leg ulcers that made his lower limbs swell, and pustules would burst.
    Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 9 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • The extreme, 100 mph winds that drove the LA wildfires to rage out of control is a different kind of event than a fire driven by overgrown brush, Quinn-Davidson said.
    Ella Nilsen, CNN, 24 Jan. 2025
  • The ceremony is happening in the wake of ongoing, devastating wildfires raging across Southern California.
    Brittany Spanos, Rolling Stone, 24 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • But simmering backlash to The Brutalist’s knottier second act—and, to a lesser extent, some scuttlebutt regarding the use of AI—could do it in; that the feature peaks about halfway through has become something of a prevailing opinion.
    David Sims, The Atlantic, 23 Jan. 2025
  • As time has passed, tensions have simmered, but this resurfacing puts the spotlight back on their frosty relationship.
    Jack Royston, Newsweek, 23 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • The question is already swirling Dec. 10, 2024 Becerra last week demurred when asked about his plans days after leaving his federal post.
    Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2025
  • The Dallas Cowboys made the stunning decision to hire offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer as the team’s head coach after the team split from Mike McCarthy and rumors swirled about Deion Sanders’ interest in the job.
    Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, 26 Jan. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Boil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/boil. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

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