as in to burn
to be on fire especially brightly
anthracite, which is naturally hard, combusts more cleanly than bituminous coal
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of combust
The rounded piston heads, slotted into a rounded chamber to match, offered higher efficiency with less energy lost to heat while fuel is combusted before being sent out as exhaust.
—
Liam Rappleye, Freep.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Let’s hope the candidates don’t spontaneously combust … or perish in a bizarre gardening accident.
—Devon Ivie, Vulture, 16 Sep. 2025
Less than a dozen blocks away from my home and within a mile of downtown Oakland, a multi-ton pile of scrap metal threatens to spontaneously combust under the hot sun.
—Brian Beveridge, Mercury News, 10 Sep. 2025
When, last year, Oasis announced a reunion tour after 15 years apart, the internet promptly combusted.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for combust
Liam Rappleye, Freep.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Let’s hope the candidates don’t spontaneously combust … or perish in a bizarre gardening accident.
—Devon Ivie, Vulture, 16 Sep. 2025
Less than a dozen blocks away from my home and within a mile of downtown Oakland, a multi-ton pile of scrap metal threatens to spontaneously combust under the hot sun.
—Brian Beveridge, Mercury News, 10 Sep. 2025
When, last year, Oasis announced a reunion tour after 15 years apart, the internet promptly combusted.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for combust
Recent Examples of Synonyms for combust
Verb
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Melody Townsend was convicted after the body of her daughter, Ana Marie Townsend, was found by first responders wrapped in plastic inside the attic of a burned, abandoned home in the 15400 block of Hamlin Avenue in Markham in 2017.—
Jeramie Bizzle,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
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When James Watt improved steam engine efficiency, factories did not burn the same amount of coal to do the same work.—
Jon Markman,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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During the rare event, the moon will cover 96% of the sun, leaving a glowing annulus in the sky for up to 2 minutes 20 seconds.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
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Myths like the Paulding Light, a mysterious glowing orb that hovers over the train tracks just across the border.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Allison’s husband, Rich Statter, quickly stepped in and grabbed his wife's flaming hair, putting out the fire with his hands.—
Escher Walcott,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
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The luxury Swiss Alps nightclub where at least 40 people were killed and nearly 120 others were injured in a New Year’s Eve inferno, had previously released a promotional video advertising flaming champagne bottles, which authorities deemed the cause of the tragedy.—
Emma Bussey , Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
2 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Combust.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/combust. Accessed 27 Jan. 2026.
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