as in igniter
a person who deliberately and unlawfully sets fire to a building or other property
several suspicious fires in the past few months have probably been set by the same torch
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in to burn
to set (something) on fire
police suspect that the owner torched the house for the insurance money
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 torch
Corey Seymour, Vogue, 23 May 2025
My mom rocked her plain white canvas sneakers through her four years at Michigan State University (that's her in the picture on the day the Olympic torch was run through the MSU campus in 1984).
—Chaunie Brusie, Parents, 2 June 2025
Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 27 May 2025
Ohana means family, and this Memorial Day weekend, family means absolutely torching your competition at the box office.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 25 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for torch
Noun
Nadal, carrying the Olympic torch in Paris during last year’s opening ceremony.
—Corey Seymour, Vogue, 23 May 2025
My mom rocked her plain white canvas sneakers through her four years at Michigan State University (that's her in the picture on the day the Olympic torch was run through the MSU campus in 1984).
—Chaunie Brusie, Parents, 2 June 2025
Verb
Many famous celebrities were name-dropped in the trial such as Barack Obama, and Kid Cudi testified about how Diddy allegedly torched his car.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 27 May 2025
Ohana means family, and this Memorial Day weekend, family means absolutely torching your competition at the box office.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 25 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for torch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for torch
Verb
-
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
-
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
-
The accommodations are spread out between three-plus-bedroom estate homes, two and three-bedroom cottages, and one-bedroom suites located above the spa and the game room—all outfitted with Wi-Fi, s’mores kits (a fire pit is lit every evening), and extra-soft sheets and bath linens.—
Lydia Mansel,
Southern Living,
8 June 2025
-
Florida evened 2-2 when Seth Jones’ snap shot lit the lamp and muted the crowd.—
Greg Cote,
Miami Herald,
7 June 2025
Noun
-
In video released by police, the firebug could be seen setting fire to a small pile of trash next to the head of a sleeping passenger stretched out on the seat.—
Elizabeth Keogh,
New York Daily News,
12 Feb. 2025
-
Two men have been charged with felony arson in Los Angeles in unrelated cases as authorities combat firebugs, looters and multiple raging blazes in Southern California.—
Michael Ruiz,
Fox News,
15 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Gold fund inflows hit three-year peaks in April as market interest in safe-haven assets ignited.—
Royston Wild,
Forbes.com,
5 June 2025
-
In the beginning, Salzer said the trio’s friendship spark was ignited by their love of their grandmother’s jewelry.—
Alexandra Pastore,
Footwear News,
5 June 2025
Verb
-
As well as 479 drones, 20 missiles of various types were fired at different parts of Ukraine, according to the air force, which said the barrage targeted mainly central and western areas of Ukraine.—
Illia Novikov,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2025
-
Police declared an unlawful assembly and responded by firing tear gas, pepper spray and flash-bang concussion rounds toward the crowd.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
8 June 2025
Verb
-
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
-
That in turn helped kindle a rally on Wall Street, though bond yields continue to climb, something President Donald Trump has sought to contain.—
Jeff Cox,
CNBC,
28 May 2025
Verb
-
Witt was scorching to start the season, batting .322 with an OPS of .863 in March and April.—
Maddie Hartley,
Kansas City Star,
15 June 2025
-
The slugger scorched a fastball that looked to go over the right-field wall, but Josh Lowe was there to catch the ball on the warning track.—
Fiifi Frimpong,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Torch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/torch. Accessed 21 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share