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
Detectives were investigating the incident as arson.
—
Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2026
Willie James Skipper Jr, 42, was found guilty on multiple federal charges, including drug trafficking, firearm offenses and arson.
—Lys Hayes, Sun Sentinel, 29 May 2026
School fires are common in Kenyan boarding schools, with some caused by arson and others by electrical faults.
—CBS News, 28 May 2026
In contrast to crimes such as murder or arson, which can be committed without uttering – or writing – a single word, threats are inherently crimes of language.
—Phillip M. Carter, The Conversation, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for arson
Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2026
Willie James Skipper Jr, 42, was found guilty on multiple federal charges, including drug trafficking, firearm offenses and arson.
—Lys Hayes, Sun Sentinel, 29 May 2026
School fires are common in Kenyan boarding schools, with some caused by arson and others by electrical faults.
—CBS News, 28 May 2026
In contrast to crimes such as murder or arson, which can be committed without uttering – or writing – a single word, threats are inherently crimes of language.
—Phillip M. Carter, The Conversation, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for arson
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arson
Noun
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Zelensky also posted footage showing explosions and several fires at one Russian facility and a huge plume of thick, black smoke rising behind a high-rise building.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
3 June 2026
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Sherrill cited public safety concerns after officials reported protesters had set tires and chairs on fire, thrown makeshift projectiles and weaponized police shields.—
Nicole Acevedo,
NBC news,
2 June 2026
Noun
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The winner of the November runoff will lead Los Angeles as city leaders navigate budget pressures, public safety and homelessness challenges, wildfire recovery efforts and preparations for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
3 June 2026
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The race, which has attracted more attention and money than usual, comes amid concerns over last year’s wildfires that erupted in the Los Angeles area, and led to higher insurance premiums for homeowners throughout the state.—
Pat Maio,
Oc Register,
3 June 2026
Noun
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In these pictures, emergency crews search through rubble, firefighters tackle blazes and residents survey the destruction in neighborhoods hit by the strikes.—
Polina Lytvynova,
NPR,
2 June 2026
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Singerly Fire Company in Elkton responded to the blaze with 25 firefighters and brought it under control in about 20 minutes, according to the fire marshal’s office.—
The Baltimore Sun,
Baltimore Sun,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Arson.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arson. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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