Sweltering: Definition, Examples & Usage

Meaning 1：sweltering (Sweltering)

Sweltering 🔊

ˈswɛltərɪŋ

adj.

extremely hot, making you feel uncomfortable and sweaty.

sweltering 🔊

➕

ˈswɛltərɪŋ

adj.

Extremely hot and humid, causing discomfort and sweating.

📁 Category：Natural Geography 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Old English 'swelan' (to burn) + suffix -er, indicating intense heat.

💡 Mnemonic

Think 'sweat' + 'ltering' (filtering heat) → you sweat heavily in sweltering heat.

📖 Example

We cancelled the picnic because it was a sweltering day, and nobody wanted to be under the sun. 🔊 We cancelled the picnic because it was a sweltering day, and nobody wanted to be under the sun.

🔗 Collocations

sweltering heat – oppressively hot weather

sweltering summer – a summer with extremely high temperatures

sweltering day – a day that is unbearably hot

🔄 Synonyms

scorching (adj.) – extremely hot, often with burning effect

blistering (adj.) – intensely hot, like causing blisters

sultry (adj.) – hot and humid, causing discomfort

🚫 Antonyms

freezing (adj.) – extremely cold

chilly (adj.) – uncomfortably cold

🌱 Derivatives

swelter (v.) – to suffer from oppressive heat

swelteringly (adv.) – in a sweltering manner

📖 Cultural Story

Derived from Old English 'swelan' (to burn). Originally referred to oppressive, humid heat. Often used in weather reports to describe dangerously hot days.