tinder

noun

tin·​der ˈtin-dər 

1

: a very flammable substance adaptable for use as kindling

2

: something that serves to incite or inflame

that rhetoric was ready tinder for revolution

—Margaret Peters

Examples of tinder in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

House Speaker Mike Johnson, speaking with reporters on Friday, tried to navigate a way out of this mess without any new tinder. —Philip Elliott, Time, 6 June 2025

No more worrying about gathering tinder or kindling in the dark. —Alice Bennett, Travel + Leisure, 29 May 2025

Dryer, hotter weather in Russia, exacerbated by climate change, create tinder box conditions that can cause a small fire to spread rapidly. —Caitlin Danaher, CNN Money, 14 May 2025

Heavy rain last winter fueled dense plant growth in Southern California, then a prolonged drought beginning in October dried out the new brush, creating tinder for wildfires. —Nidhi Sharma, NBC News, 6 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English tynder; akin to Old High German zuntra tinder, Old English tendan to kindle

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for tinder

• cinder
• hinder
• linder
• winder

Kids Definition

tinder

noun

tin·​der ˈtin-dər 

: a material that burns easily and can be used as kindling