combust

verb

com·​bust kəm-ˈbəst 

combusted; combusting; combusts

: burn

Synonyms

• burn
• glow
• flame

Examples of combust in a Sentence

anthracite, which is naturally hard, combusts more cleanly than bituminous coal

Recent Examples on the Web

But since then, the Musk-Trump partnership has combusted, with the President even threatening to pull federal funding from Musk’s companies, including SpaceX. At the same time, the X platform continues to spark controversial incidents that might alienate some advertisers. —Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 9 July 2025

Missiles combusted an oil refinery in Haifa and struck a hospital, a science institute and residential areas. —Sebastien Roblin, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025

Western Maryland’s communities should not be left to combust in the footnotes of our state’s history, but should be integral to its future. —Daniel A.c. McBride, Baltimore Sun, 1 June 2025

The dog, which Giancarlo said combusted as if something flammable had been applied to it, ran over to the couch, where the tenant tried to grab it, the report said. —Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 20 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

derivative of earlier combust, combusted "burned, consumed," going back to Middle English combust, borrowed from Latin combustus, past participle of combūrere "to destroy with fire, reduce to ashes, calcine," from com- com- + ūrere "to expose to fire, burn, scorch" (with -b- from ambūrere "to burn around, scorch," falsely parsed as am- + būrere) — more at adust

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for combust

• adjust
• discussed
• disgust
• distrust
• entrust
• intrust
• mistrust
• nonplussed
• robust
• sawdust
• stardust
• unjust

Kids Definition

combust

verb

com·​bust kəm-ˈbəst 

: to be or set on fire : burn