swelter
Americanverb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
-
to oppress with heat.
-
Archaic. to exude, as venom.
noun
verb
-
(intr) to suffer under oppressive heat, esp to sweat and feel faint
-
archaic (tr) to exude (venom)
-
rare (tr) to cause to suffer under oppressive heat
noun
-
a sweltering condition (esp in the phrase in a swelter )
-
oppressive humid heat
Other Word Forms
- unsweltered adjective
Etymology
Origin of swelter
1375–1425; late Middle English swelt ( e ) ren (v.), equivalent to swelt ( en ) to be overcome with heat ( Old English sweltan to die; cognate with Old Norse svelta, Gothic swiltan ) + -eren -er 6
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Hundreds of people, including children, defied the sweltering heat to attend prayers.
From Barron's
About 10 miles south is the sweltering city of Cabimas, an iconic venue in Venezuela’s petroleum narrative.
From Los Angeles Times
Venues for both matches are yet to be confirmed but will reportedly be in Tampa, Miami or Orlando to allow the squad to acclimatise to what are expected to be sweltering conditions.
From Barron's
At last, we find the cool shade we longed for on our sweltering journey.
From Literature
Sinner was undoubtedly the biggest winner on a sweltering day where play was suspended and almost 100,000 fans were warned to take care in the heat.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
