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 An arson investigation was underway, the LAPD spokesman said. City News Service, Daily News, 20 July 2026 Paul went on to allege that someone had targeted both him and his brother with the arson attacks. Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 18 July 2026 The pattern includes shootings and attacks on farmers, as well as arson, property destruction, road obstruction, and the intimidation or expulsion of entire communities. Thomas Wright, The Atlantic, 16 July 2026 Los Angeles Fire Department arson investigators are probing a destructive fire that ripped through a Sun Valley strip mall early Sunday morning, destroying a beloved family-run market. Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 14 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for arson
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arson
Noun
  • Temperatures are set to soar in France and Spain this week as the continent heads into its fourth heat wave of the summer, and there is no rain forecast to relieve the tinder-dry conditions fuelling the fires.
    Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 28 July 2026
  • It was reported to be the first time that the Navy’s Global Autonomous Reconnaissance Craft (GARC) manufactured by BlackSea Technologies was used in a live-fire exercise.
    Zita Ballinger Fletcher, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
Noun
  • Military firefighters in Sierra Oeste, Spain battled to contain flames as a wildfire spread overnight.
    Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 25 July 2026
  • This is expected to carry into the weekend and into next week, but there are a few interesting wrinkles to unpack amid what is leftover from Tropical Storm Elida and ongoing wildfires across northern California.
    Sean Macaday, Sacbee.com, 24 July 2026
Noun
  • Chute Fire The Chute Fire remained at 60 acres and 0% contained Tuesday morning as Cal Fire and other crews continued battling the blaze in Chute Ravine near Dobbins in Yuba County, about 50 miles north of Sacramento.
    Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 21 July 2026
  • Such blazes have large vertical growth and can spread rapidly even when not driven by the wind.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Arson.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arson. Accessed 29 Jul. 2026.

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