sweltering heat

USAGE SUMMARY

"sweltering heat" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to an unpleasantly hot and oppressive temperature. For example, "We endured the sweltering heat as we hiked up the mountain."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Without more tightening, expect the sweltering heat to continue.

The Economist

Sweltering heat, however, threatened to rival her luminosity.

The New York Times

You work tirelessly, running hills, working out in sweltering heat.

The New York Times - Sports

Despite the sweltering heat, she stopped to talk with a neighbor.

The New York Times

Sweltering heat and a severe drought have damaged the corn crop in the United States.

The New York Times

The game began in sweltering heat and choking humidity, but storm clouds persistently threatened overhead.

The New York Times - Sports

There they have set up makeshift camps on the town's football pitch, in sweltering heat.

The Economist

Jan Bakelants did enough in the sweltering heat to keep the yellow jersey.

The New York Times - Sports

Repeatedly the pair locked into obsessive drones, which mixed with the sweltering heat to hypnotic effect.

The New York Times - Arts

Outside, the celebration was buoyant but modest, perhaps tempered by the sweltering heat.

The New York Times - Sports

From the sweltering heat of the Demerara river Prosser was plunged into Corpus Christi College, Oxford.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "sweltering heat" to vividly describe conditions that are not just hot, but also uncomfortably oppressive, especially when emphasizing the impact on people or activities.

Common error

While appropriate for many situations, avoid "sweltering heat" in highly formal or technical writing. Opt for more neutral terms like "high temperature" or "extreme warmth" when precision is paramount.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "sweltering heat" is as a noun phrase that typically acts as a subject, object, or complement in a sentence. The adjective "sweltering" modifies the noun "heat", intensifying its meaning. According to Ludwig, it is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Sweltering heat" is a commonly used and grammatically sound phrase for describing intensely hot and oppressive conditions. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is appropriate for general use. It's most frequently found in news and media contexts, serving to vividly depict uncomfortable weather or environmental situations. While versatile, it's best to reserve it for descriptive writing and use more neutral terms in highly formal contexts. Alternatives like "oppressive heat" or "scorching heat" can offer nuanced variations, while more formal terms like "high temperature" can maintain a professional tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

oppressive heat

Focuses on the burdensome and uncomfortable aspect of the heat.

scorching heat

Emphasizes the burning and intense nature of the heat.

baking heat

Draws a parallel to the heat of an oven, highlighting its intensity.

blistering heat

Suggests a heat so intense it can cause blistering.

intense heat

A more general term emphasizing the high degree of heat.

extreme heat

Highlights the extremity and potential danger of the heat.

fierce heat

Indicates a strong and powerful heat.

sultry heat

Suggests a heavy, humid, and often oppressive heat.

broiling heat

Implies a heat similar to that of a broiler, very direct and intense.

stifling heat

Emphasizes the suffocating and difficult-to-breathe quality of the heat.

FAQs

How can I use "sweltering heat" in a sentence?

You can use "sweltering heat" to describe weather conditions, environments, or situations characterized by intense and oppressive heat. For example, "The workers toiled under the "sweltering heat" of the midday sun."

What's a less dramatic alternative to "sweltering heat"?

If you want a less intense way to describe hot conditions, you might use phrases like "high temperatures", "warm weather", or "hot conditions", depending on the context.

What are some words to describe heat other than "sweltering"?

Alternatives include "scorching", "baking", "blistering", or "oppressive", each conveying a slightly different nuance of intense heat.

Is "sweltering heat" appropriate for formal writing?

While "sweltering heat" is widely understood, it's often more suitable for descriptive or informal writing. For formal or scientific contexts, consider using more neutral and precise terms such as "extreme temperature" or "high ambient temperature".