accelerant
noun
ac·cel·er·ant
ik-ˈse-lə-rənt 
ak-
: a substance used to accelerate a process (such as the spreading of a fire)
Examples of accelerant in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
According to police, the suspect in the incident, Dana Hunt, used an accelerant to light the fire, leading from the entrance of the apartment to a specific unit on the top floor where his ex-girlfriend lived.
—
Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 10 June 2026
The downturn started with the ubiquity of smartphones, social media, and various forms of educational technology that have proved inefficient, with the pandemic acting as an accelerant.
—Tristan Bove, Fortune, 8 June 2026
What Quietly Drains Bone Density On the other side of the equation, Johns Hopkins Medicine flags smoking, heavy alcohol use, prolonged sitting and very low calorie diets as significant accelerants of bone loss.
—Allison Palmer
updated June 3, Sacbee.com, 3 June 2026
Critics have used the video as a political accelerant for Aurora’s broader recall debate.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for accelerant
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.
Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 10 June 2026
The downturn started with the ubiquity of smartphones, social media, and various forms of educational technology that have proved inefficient, with the pandemic acting as an accelerant.
—Tristan Bove, Fortune, 8 June 2026
What Quietly Drains Bone Density On the other side of the equation, Johns Hopkins Medicine flags smoking, heavy alcohol use, prolonged sitting and very low calorie diets as significant accelerants of bone loss.
—Allison Palmer
updated June 3, Sacbee.com, 3 June 2026
Critics have used the video as a political accelerant for Aurora’s broader recall debate.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for accelerant
Cite this Entry
“Accelerant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/accelerant. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
