as in to burn
to set (something) on fire
worried that lightning will kindle the forest in the drought-stricken nature preserve
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Recent Examples of kindle
If the Golden State can’t find ways to move more quickly toward climate-friendly energy, then the oppressively hot, dry conditions that kindle deadly fires will almost certainly keep getting worse.
Bringing down electric rates, meanwhile, is crucial to climate progress.
—
Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2025
And this is all kindling for the fire of pro-mortalism to spread.
—Chloe Mayer, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 May 2025
This linguistic triangle, with its mix of mystery, unease, and intimacy, becomes kindling for a love triangle, fueled by the Frenchwoman’s bold sexuality, the soldier’s Catholicism, and Luise’s confused longing.
—Devika Girish, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2025
Ellie’s violence is always uncertain and, other than Nora, her kills leave her shaken and upset rather than kindling her determination.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for kindle
Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2025
And this is all kindling for the fire of pro-mortalism to spread.
—Chloe Mayer, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 May 2025
This linguistic triangle, with its mix of mystery, unease, and intimacy, becomes kindling for a love triangle, fueled by the Frenchwoman’s bold sexuality, the soldier’s Catholicism, and Luise’s confused longing.
—Devika Girish, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2025
Ellie’s violence is always uncertain and, other than Nora, her kills leave her shaken and upset rather than kindling her determination.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for kindle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kindle
Verb
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The pair, who met as college undergrads, both burned with idealism and recognized their privilege could be leveraged for a game-changing idea.—
Carole Horst,
Variety,
13 Sep. 2023
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The Ellen MacArthur Foundation promotes circular fashion and says that, in the United States, an amount of clothing equal to a garbage truck is ferried to landfills or burned every second.—
Neeti Mehra,
Treehugger,
13 Sep. 2023
Verb
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But there is a wider discontent among the MAGA base that the president must contend with as well, according to experts, who point out how parts of the populist movement that ignited his initial candidacy in 2016 and catapulted him back to power last year are beginning to feel alienated.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
12 July 2025
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During the tussle, the suspect was able to ignite the fuel, setting fire to one of the probation officers, the department wrote in a post on Facebook.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
12 July 2025
Verb
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June 2025 Queen of Wands: June lights a fire under your already bright and powerful presence, Taurus.—
Meghan Rose,
Glamour,
1 July 2025
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Roley, who was found dead near the scene after appearing to have shot himself, is suspected of lighting the brush with a flint fire starter before ambushing the firefighting crew in a mountainous area of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
1 July 2025
Verb
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In 1987, after Marvel had been acquired by New World Pictures, Shooter, whose welcome was already wearing thin, was, by some accounts, fired for demanding editorial autonomy and the payment of royalties.—
Rob Salkowitz,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
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The people who knew the codes — who were responsible for distributing that aid — were fired.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
1 July 2025
Verb
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All the butterflies are torched to trash, and the bindies, once thorny and stubborn, are scorched clean along with the grass.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 July 2025
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Cars and cybertrucks were torched, damaged, dealerships set ablaze.—
Boston Herald editorial staff,
Boston Herald,
6 July 2025
Verb
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Lessons learned from wildfires that scorched local canyon communities in the recent past — the Coastal fire, the Aliso fire and the Bond fire — were pulled in and law enforcement personnel from Pasadena spoke about their experiences in the Eaton fire in January.—
Erika I. Ritchie,
Oc Register,
10 July 2025
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That ridge is currently parked over Arizona, acting like a giant atmospheric lid creating scorching daytime temperatures and warm nights beneath.—
Hayleigh Evans,
AZCentral.com,
9 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Kindle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kindle. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.
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