as in explosive
capable of catching or being set on fire
don't store oily rags and other combustible materials in a hot attic
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 combustible
In a criminal complaint, authorities allege Rinderknecht caused the fire by lighting a combustible material, such as vegetation or paper, with an open flame, likely a lighter.
—
Alex Stone, ABC News, 15 Oct. 2025
As in prior moral panics, the technology proved to be an easy and tangible scapegoat, which enabled Americans to avoid grappling with the complex social factors—like deindustrialization, urban decay, and disillusioned suburban children—that led to a combustible situation ripe for tragedy.
—Time, 8 Oct. 2025
Rinderknecht — who once lived in the Pacific Palisades area — likely used a lighter that set fire to combustible material such as vegetation or paper, authorities alleged in the complaint.
—Nicole Acosta, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025
Keep neighboring tree branches at least 10 feet from the home, and store firewood and other combustible materials as far away as possible.
—Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for combustible
Alex Stone, ABC News, 15 Oct. 2025
As in prior moral panics, the technology proved to be an easy and tangible scapegoat, which enabled Americans to avoid grappling with the complex social factors—like deindustrialization, urban decay, and disillusioned suburban children—that led to a combustible situation ripe for tragedy.
—Time, 8 Oct. 2025
Rinderknecht — who once lived in the Pacific Palisades area — likely used a lighter that set fire to combustible material such as vegetation or paper, authorities alleged in the complaint.
—Nicole Acosta, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025
Keep neighboring tree branches at least 10 feet from the home, and store firewood and other combustible materials as far away as possible.
—Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for combustible
Recent Examples of Synonyms for combustible
Adjective
-
Buffett and Munger have long said that given its size, Berkshire can no longer achieve the explosive growth of its earlier years.—
,
CNBC,
11 Nov. 2025
-
Frueh did not work with Livelsberger, but said that for veterans, intense training and proximity to explosive blasts put special operators at a higher risk for traumatic brain injuries than average people or even typical military personnel.—
Tonya Simpson,
ABC News,
11 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
But future designs may allow for the 3D printer to create a concrete roof, removing anything flammable from the home’s exterior.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacbee.com,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Make sure the tank is not near other flammable materials, like gas cans or paint, when storing it for winter.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
And all this against an inflammable backdrop of geopolitical crises including but not limited to the Israel-Hamas war and Russia's invasion of Ukraine.—
John Leicester,
Quartz,
15 Apr. 2024
-
Heat also stresses old electrical systems — insulation breaks down; lubricants in relays dry out — and a not-insignificant amount of the subway’s electrical wiring dates to the 1920s and 1930s, some of it cloth-covered, inflammable, and pervious to water.—
Curbed,
Curbed,
28 July 2023
Adjective
-
Search for answers continues following UPS plane crash As the community in Louisville, Kentucky, mourns those killed in a fiery United Parcel Service cargo plane crash, authorities warned that answers for family members may still be a way off.—
Jane Onyanga-Omara,
USA Today,
7 Nov. 2025
-
But while Christy flaunts a fiery persona in the ring, her toughest battles unfold outside it, confronting family, identity, and a relationship that becomes life-or-death.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Combustible.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/combustible. Accessed 28 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share