as in burning
to set (something) on fire
tried using newspapers as kindling to ignite the logs in the fireplace
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Recent Examples of igniting
People living in areas with red flag warnings are asked to take extra precautions to avoid accidentally igniting a fire.
—
Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 23 Apr. 2026
According to the Attorney General's office, the defendants are accused of throwing incendiary devices at a Brasfield & Gorrie facility in Cobb County in May 2022, damaging property and igniting nearby land while employees were inside the building.
—Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026
The growing awareness of automatic license-plate readers, their associated technology and the potential dangers to vulnerable populations has come under scrutiny in the Bay Area, igniting debate over their public safety benefits.
—Chase Hunter, Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2026
Wearing an apron and a hachimaki headband, he could be seen cooking up a storm and even showing off his skills igniting a volcano onion.
—Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 16 Apr. 2026
Tensions spiked in 2016 when the government attempted to impose French in English-speaking regions’ schools and courts, igniting protests that security forces violently repressed.
—ABC News, 16 Apr. 2026
On Friday, a 20-year-old man named Daniel Moreno-Gama traveled from Spring, Texas, to San Francisco’s Pacific Heights neighborhood and hurled an incendiary device at the gate of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s $27 million home, igniting a fire on the exterior gate.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 14 Apr. 2026
The bride’s shocking personal revelation triggers her maid of honor and sends the groom into a tailspin, igniting wedding reception chaos that overshadows their characters’ union from the start.
—Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 13 Apr. 2026
Older homes made of wood, which are more prone to igniting, are dotted throughout.
—Lauren Sommer, NPR, 10 Apr. 2026
Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 23 Apr. 2026
According to the Attorney General's office, the defendants are accused of throwing incendiary devices at a Brasfield & Gorrie facility in Cobb County in May 2022, damaging property and igniting nearby land while employees were inside the building.
—Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026
The growing awareness of automatic license-plate readers, their associated technology and the potential dangers to vulnerable populations has come under scrutiny in the Bay Area, igniting debate over their public safety benefits.
—Chase Hunter, Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2026
Wearing an apron and a hachimaki headband, he could be seen cooking up a storm and even showing off his skills igniting a volcano onion.
—Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 16 Apr. 2026
Tensions spiked in 2016 when the government attempted to impose French in English-speaking regions’ schools and courts, igniting protests that security forces violently repressed.
—ABC News, 16 Apr. 2026
On Friday, a 20-year-old man named Daniel Moreno-Gama traveled from Spring, Texas, to San Francisco’s Pacific Heights neighborhood and hurled an incendiary device at the gate of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s $27 million home, igniting a fire on the exterior gate.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 14 Apr. 2026
The bride’s shocking personal revelation triggers her maid of honor and sends the groom into a tailspin, igniting wedding reception chaos that overshadows their characters’ union from the start.
—Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 13 Apr. 2026
Older homes made of wood, which are more prone to igniting, are dotted throughout.
—Lauren Sommer, NPR, 10 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for igniting
Verb
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Maps show where the wildfires are burning across Florida and Georgia.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The video shows stunned drivers making a break for it after the firework went off, even though 77 was still partially burning.—
Joe Bruno,
Charlotte Observer,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Blazers could not hold on after building a 65-59 halftime lead, an edge built by shooting a scorching 10-of-21 from 3-point range.—
Christian Clark,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Wildfires are currently scorching acres of land in South Georgia and Northern Florida.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Rather than have their payroll and egos be kindling for clubhouse dysfunction, the Dodgers have found a formula to keep their winning ways going.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
25 Mar. 2026
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Even minor parks or embers might be carried into leaves or grass, kindling a fire that can swiftly expand.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But what happens if the Epstein-files story razes the entire forest, torching whatever trust is left in the political establishment, the Democratic Party very much included?—
Jon Allsop,
New Yorker,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Undrafted out of high school, Torkelson matriculated to Arizona State and started torching college pitching, eventually crushing Barry Bonds’ school record for home runs by a freshman.—
Stephen J. Nesbitt,
New York Times,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Unfortunately, Lace delivers a kick that knocks Jinx on his back, inflaming an old injury.—
Dessi Gomez,
Deadline,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Trump’s decision to send ICE agents to the airports risks inflaming the situation, lawmakers have said.—
Kevin Freking,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Igniting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/igniting. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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