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
Josh Shapiro’s family was asleep in the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion last year when the house was set ablaze by an arsonist, and Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman, who led the House Democratic caucus, was shot and killed in her home.
—
Matt Viser, The Atlantic, 1 June 2026
Also reeling from a fire death are friends and relatives of Oreste Deleon, 70, a Bronx landlord who died along with two tenants on May 6 when an arsonist torched his Mott Haven building.
—Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 16 May 2026
Spate of attacks In March, arsonists set fire to four ambulances belonging to a Jewish charity, also in Golders Green.
—Jomana Karadsheh, CNN Money, 1 May 2026
Some have also noted that Lunds became victim to shoplifting, staff turnover, a loss of customers in the era of remote work and a fire set by an arsonist that caused upward of $500,000 in damage in 2022.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 30 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
Matt Viser, The Atlantic, 1 June 2026
Also reeling from a fire death are friends and relatives of Oreste Deleon, 70, a Bronx landlord who died along with two tenants on May 6 when an arsonist torched his Mott Haven building.
—Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 16 May 2026
Spate of attacks In March, arsonists set fire to four ambulances belonging to a Jewish charity, also in Golders Green.
—Jomana Karadsheh, CNN Money, 1 May 2026
Some have also noted that Lunds became victim to shoplifting, staff turnover, a loss of customers in the era of remote work and a fire set by an arsonist that caused upward of $500,000 in damage in 2022.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 30 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arsonist
torch
Noun
-
Place under a broiler for 1 to 2 minutes per side, sear in a hot, dry skillet for 1 to 2 minutes per side or use a bartender’s or chef’s torch to char, until lightly caramelized.—
Kate Bradshaw,
Mercury News,
9 June 2026
-
When fully assembled, the torches stand 55 inches tall, which adds both dimension and style to your outdoor space.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
9 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Arsonist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arsonist. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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