as in torch
a person who deliberately and unlawfully sets fire to a building or other property
they finally caught the arsonist, but only after he'd set fire to four barns
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of arsonist
Prosecutors have spent the duration of the trial painting Rinderknecht as a vengeful, mentally unstable arsonist who was angry at society.
—
ABC News,
22 June 2026
That’s like giving somebody credit for literally an arsonist starting a fire and getting credit for running out of the burning building.
—
NBC news,
21 June 2026
An alleged arsonist was arrested on Saturday for setting fire to a Ventura County motel, according to authorities.
—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
21 June 2026
Because Rinderknecht isn't charged with being a strange guy, he's charged with an arsonist.
—
Adam Sabes,
FOXNews.com,
17 June 2026
Moscow regularly recruits young men of various nationalities — the Starmer arsonists were Ukrainian-born — as proxies in its shadowy hybrid warfare campaigns, Reuters reported.
—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
15 June 2026
Josh Shapiro’s family was asleep in the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion last year when the house was set ablaze by an arsonist, and Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman, who led the House Democratic caucus, was shot and killed in her home.
—
Matt Viser,
The Atlantic,
1 June 2026
Also reeling from a fire death are friends and relatives of Oreste Deleon, 70, a Bronx landlord who died along with two tenants on May 6 when an arsonist torched his Mott Haven building.
—
Emma Seiwell,
New York Daily News,
16 May 2026
Spate of attacks In March, arsonists set fire to four ambulances belonging to a Jewish charity, also in Golders Green.
—
Jomana Karadsheh,
CNN Money,
1 May 2026
ABC News,
22 June 2026
That’s like giving somebody credit for literally an arsonist starting a fire and getting credit for running out of the burning building.
—
NBC news,
21 June 2026
An alleged arsonist was arrested on Saturday for setting fire to a Ventura County motel, according to authorities.
—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
21 June 2026
Because Rinderknecht isn't charged with being a strange guy, he's charged with an arsonist.
—
Adam Sabes,
FOXNews.com,
17 June 2026
Moscow regularly recruits young men of various nationalities — the Starmer arsonists were Ukrainian-born — as proxies in its shadowy hybrid warfare campaigns, Reuters reported.
—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
15 June 2026
Josh Shapiro’s family was asleep in the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion last year when the house was set ablaze by an arsonist, and Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman, who led the House Democratic caucus, was shot and killed in her home.
—
Matt Viser,
The Atlantic,
1 June 2026
Also reeling from a fire death are friends and relatives of Oreste Deleon, 70, a Bronx landlord who died along with two tenants on May 6 when an arsonist torched his Mott Haven building.
—
Emma Seiwell,
New York Daily News,
16 May 2026
Spate of attacks In March, arsonists set fire to four ambulances belonging to a Jewish charity, also in Golders Green.
—
Jomana Karadsheh,
CNN Money,
1 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arsonist
torch
Noun
-
Another bears an image of a sheep Statue of Liberty holding a selfie stick instead of a torch.
-
Some held torches to light the way as floodlights appeared to illuminate the rubble against the darkness of night.
Cite this Entry
“Arsonist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arsonist. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
