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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Recent Examples of arson
The suspect has also been charged with multiple counts related to arson and possession of a destructive device in connection with the incidents at Altman's residence and OpenAI's headquarters, Jenkins said.
—
Luke Barr, ABC News, 13 Apr. 2026
In California, with its history of wildfires often caused by arson or negligence, prosecutors have not shied away from filing criminal charges, including murder, against people suspected of starting blazes or explosions, Taylor said.
—Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 11 Apr. 2026
Chamel Abdulkarim, 29, was arrested on April 7 and charged on Friday, April 10, with arson of a building used in interstate and foreign commerce and in activities affecting interstate and foreign commerce.
—Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 11 Apr. 2026
About an hour later, officers responded to a man threatening arson at the AI company’s office, recognizing the person as the same suspect from the attack at Altman’s home, according to the statement.
—Lola Murti, CNBC, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for arson
Luke Barr, ABC News, 13 Apr. 2026
In California, with its history of wildfires often caused by arson or negligence, prosecutors have not shied away from filing criminal charges, including murder, against people suspected of starting blazes or explosions, Taylor said.
—Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 11 Apr. 2026
Chamel Abdulkarim, 29, was arrested on April 7 and charged on Friday, April 10, with arson of a building used in interstate and foreign commerce and in activities affecting interstate and foreign commerce.
—Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 11 Apr. 2026
About an hour later, officers responded to a man threatening arson at the AI company’s office, recognizing the person as the same suspect from the attack at Altman’s home, according to the statement.
—Lola Murti, CNBC, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for arson
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arson
Noun
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The fires burned for more than three weeks and clean-up efforts took about seven months.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
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It's been six months since Keisha Archer last set foot in her childcare center after it was set on fire in October.—
Monique John,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Maryland fire departments respond to over 5,000 wildfire incidents per year, according to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.—
Bridget Byrne,
Baltimore Sun,
15 Apr. 2026
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Billy Crystal will return to Broadway this fall in a very intimate one-man show that will take the audience into his family's longtime Los Angeles home that was leveled in wildfires.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
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In the weeks since the blaze, Abu-Namous has received an outpouring of support from the Smithville community.—
Jenna Ebbers,
Kansas City Star,
14 Apr. 2026
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An arsonist set a restaurant on fire, injuring two people trapped by the flames, before setting blazes outside a nearby synagogue and funeral home, police said Tuesday.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
14 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Arson.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arson. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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