as in torch
a person who deliberately and unlawfully sets fire to a building or other property
they finally caught the arsonist, but only after he'd set fire to four barns
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Recent Examples of arsonist
The rabbi of Kenton United Synagogue in Harrow, northwest London, which was attacked by arsonists over the weekend, took to social media on Sunday to show members of his congregation gathering in his home to pray.
—
Lianne Kolirin, CNN Money, 20 Apr. 2026
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
Also, sorry, bold move for a guy who’s been giving his wife the runaround with an infamous arsonist!
—Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2026
A little over six years after being targeted by arsonists during wide-ranging protests in Santiago, Chile, the Violeta Parra Museum has been reopened to the public, the Art Newspaper reports.
—News Desk, Artforum, 6 Apr. 2026
An arsonist set fire to the same synagogue in January.
—Fernanda Figueroa, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2026
An arsonist targeted an insurance agency office adjacent to a landmark Fruitvale district Mexican restaurant early Friday, and although the business was gutted by flames, firefighters were able to prevent the blaze from spreading to the restaurant, officials said.
—Harry Harris, Mercury News, 28 Mar. 2026
The sheriff's office believes that the same arsonist started a fire on Sunday near the town of Vernon.
—Christa Swanson, CBS News, 18 Mar. 2026
According to Fishback, in February, an arsonist tried to burn down his home, where his staff was working.
—Dan Adler, Vanity Fair, 11 Mar. 2026
Lianne Kolirin, CNN Money, 20 Apr. 2026
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
Also, sorry, bold move for a guy who’s been giving his wife the runaround with an infamous arsonist!
—Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2026
A little over six years after being targeted by arsonists during wide-ranging protests in Santiago, Chile, the Violeta Parra Museum has been reopened to the public, the Art Newspaper reports.
—News Desk, Artforum, 6 Apr. 2026
An arsonist set fire to the same synagogue in January.
—Fernanda Figueroa, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2026
An arsonist targeted an insurance agency office adjacent to a landmark Fruitvale district Mexican restaurant early Friday, and although the business was gutted by flames, firefighters were able to prevent the blaze from spreading to the restaurant, officials said.
—Harry Harris, Mercury News, 28 Mar. 2026
The sheriff's office believes that the same arsonist started a fire on Sunday near the town of Vernon.
—Christa Swanson, CBS News, 18 Mar. 2026
According to Fishback, in February, an arsonist tried to burn down his home, where his staff was working.
—Dan Adler, Vanity Fair, 11 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arsonist
torch
Noun
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Some supporters of the Wide Awakes’ rebirth have expressed hesitance about its aesthetics, especially the optics of torch-wielding vigilantes marching through the streets.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Apr. 2026
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Former Canadiens captain Yvan Cournoyer entered the Bell Centre from that plaza holding a torch, walked it into the building and the arena bowl, setting off the Canadiens’ traditional playoff ritual of the ice catching fire, and the building roared.—
Arpon Basu,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Arsonist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arsonist. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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