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.

Related Words

Relevance

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 He was placed under arrest and charged with first-degree arson, first-degree reckless endangerment, first-degree criminal mischief and interfering with an officer. — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 26 Sep. 2026 The outlet reported that Shrine has a prior felony arson conviction in Contra Costa County as well as convictions for vandalism, battery and violation of probation. — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2026 Officials in Poland, Germany and Denmark have in recent weeks accused Russia of involvement in drone incursions, sabotage, arson, surveillance of defense facilities and planning to use a drone carrying explosives to attack an airport. — Arkansas Online, 19 Sep. 2026 Lynch remains in custody in connection with those allegations and a 2012 arson charge, police said. — Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for arson
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arson
Noun
  • Gaza health officials have said at least 1,400 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since last October's ceasefire.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 4 Oct. 2026
  • After that, the chants to fire Riley rang out from the student section.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • El Niño threatens soy and corn harvests in the south while plunging savannahs and rainforests into drought and sparking wildfires.
    — DAN RESTREPO, Foreign Affairs, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Senators involved in those negotiations, including Pérez, resisted ending the process which is called subrogation and dramatically increases a utility’s liability when it’s found at fault for wildfires that burn into communities.
    — Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 29 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • In a story based on his Staten Island upbringing, the comic plays Scott, a 24-year-old high school dropout grappling with the loss of his firefighter father, who died in a blaze when Scott was 7.
    — Marlow Stern, Variety, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Several vehicles caught fire outside a Homestead home early Tuesday morning, with the flames spreading to the house as investigators work to determine what sparked the blaze.
    — Morgan Rynor, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Arson.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arson. Accessed 7 Oct. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on arson

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster