arson

Definition of arsonnext
as in fire
the illegal burning of a building or other property; the crime of setting fire to something The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, but investigators suspect arson. The town has suffered a rash of arson attacks.

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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 arson Jonathan Rinderknecht was facing arson charges for setting a fire on New Year’s Day in 2025, which became one of the deadliest wildfires in LA history. Terrence O'Brien, The Verge, 28 June 2026 In December, 2024, a synagogue in Melbourne was destroyed in an arson attack; seven months later, another was set alight during Shabbat. Oscar Schwartz, New Yorker, 29 June 2026 The killings occurred in the Rafi area of Niger State between Monday and Wednesday and involved gun attacks and arson, police spokesperson Wasiu Abiodun said in a statement. ABC News, 2 July 2026 Pretoria’s memory of large-scale unrest in July 2021 — when looting and arson left hundreds dead and billions in damage — hangs over the preparations, shaping how officials and businesses are responding. Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 29 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for arson
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arson
Noun
  • An evacuation warning was issued for the area of Paradise Ranch, between Templin Highway and the Pyramid Lake area, according to Los Angeles County fire officials.
    Andrea Klick, Daily News, 7 July 2026
  • In Los Angeles County, the fire department said a man was critically injured after a fire burned at least two cars in a parking lot in the Wilmington neighborhood on July 3.
    Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 7 July 2026
Noun
  • Fireworks from formal rocket shows to impromptu street celebrations can create extremely unhealthy air quality, sometimes rivaling what comes from wildfires.
    Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 4 July 2026
  • This year’s celebration comes on the heels of a late June warehouse fire in Boyle Heights that released extraordinary amounts of soot and smoke across the county, on par with pollution generated by the previous year’s wildfires.
    Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026
Noun
  • For The Times) After an eight-day blaze at a Boyle Heights warehouse, toxic ash may have tainted backyard food gardens.
    Christopher Buchanan, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
  • Containment on the roughly 49-square-mile blaze grew to 8% contained as of Tuesday evening, fire officials said.
    Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 7 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Arson.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arson. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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