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
Birthday celebrations in subsequent years seem hardly to have been calculated to kindle a sense of humility.
—
Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 21 Feb. 2026
There’s a slender streak of humor, dry and combustible as kindling, in the film’s exploration of this absurd domestic setup, which lays out the rigid expectations of women and men alike in a punishingly conservative society.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 15 Feb. 2026
If ‘Oxen’ occupies a region of Ulysses where Joyce’s exquisite ear for memorably musical sentences (‘Mild fire of wine kindled his veins’) takes a back seat to the leaden hum of meta-literature, that is no reason not to be awed by his chutzpah.
—Literary Hub, 5 Feb. 2026
Watson had kindled a social media friendship with the NBA star and received an invite to one of his exclusive pickup runs.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 14 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for kindle
Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 21 Feb. 2026
There’s a slender streak of humor, dry and combustible as kindling, in the film’s exploration of this absurd domestic setup, which lays out the rigid expectations of women and men alike in a punishingly conservative society.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 15 Feb. 2026
If ‘Oxen’ occupies a region of Ulysses where Joyce’s exquisite ear for memorably musical sentences (‘Mild fire of wine kindled his veins’) takes a back seat to the leaden hum of meta-literature, that is no reason not to be awed by his chutzpah.
—Literary Hub, 5 Feb. 2026
Watson had kindled a social media friendship with the NBA star and received an invite to one of his exclusive pickup runs.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 14 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for kindle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kindle
Verb
-
The analysis, released Friday by the California Department of Insurance and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, found that meeting wildfire safety standards for roughly 30,000 homes within the Eaton and Pacific Palisades burn areas would significantly cut average annual losses.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Around 2,000 acres at Camp Ripley in north-central Minnesota have burned due to a wildfire that broke out in the area on Sunday, officials with the military training center said.—
Nick Lentz,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Most dry grasses, dead leaves, and other tree litter could easily ignite and spread fire quickly.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
29 Mar. 2026
-
After Virginia briefly stopped the run, Miles ignited another spark with a tough layup to extend TCU’s lead to 48-38.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
On Tuesday evening, City Hall was lit in the Transgender Pride flag colors — light pink, baby blue and white.—
Angela Palermo
April 1,
Idaho Statesman,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The Birdfy misses most often when a bird is too close to the camera, poorly lit, or facing away from the camera.—
Jim Fisher,
PC Magazine,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Once North Carolina fired Hubert Davis after five seasons, Billy Donovan immediately rose to the top of the list of favorites to become the next head coach of the storied program.—
Matthew Couden,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
-
One of the reasons American troops would be vulnerable on Kharg Island is its close proximity to the Iranian mainland, from which missiles, drones and artillery could be fired.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Jamal Murray has been torching opposing defenses, and Nikola Jokić is dropping dimes left and right.—
Zach Harper,
New York Times,
30 Mar. 2026
-
On defense, Bradley drew the assignment of containing Smith, who torched Arizona in the first half.—
Nathan Canilao,
Mercury News,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
However, it must be shielded from scorching sun.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
28 Mar. 2026
-
The eruption did more than cool the skies and scorch an entire network of valleys.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Kindle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kindle. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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