Definition of combustiblenext
as in explosive
capable of catching or being set on fire don't store oily rags and other combustible materials in a hot attic

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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 Officials described how the blaze likely triggered the release of combustible gases that ignited violently and caused what English-speaking firefighters call a flashover or backdraft. Jamey Keaten, Chicago Tribune, 1 Jan. 2026 Authorities have warned that current conditions — including a harsh drought season, deteriorated forest infrastructure and large amounts of combustible vegetation — could significantly worsen the fire season between January and May, particularly in the western province of Pinar del Río. Maykel González, Miami Herald, 28 Dec. 2025 Kelly Charles, the city’s chief building official, said city rules require water supply as soon as combustible materials are on site. David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Dec. 2025 Road workers had left the immediate area, but no official evacuation orders had been issued, despite the possibility that a dangerous amount of highly combustible gas remained trapped in nearby homes. Ethan Varian, Mercury News, 21 Dec. 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
  • Luckily, the cartoon cat didn't explode, as the balloon was filled with non-inflammable helium.
    Kate Hogan, PEOPLE, 27 Nov. 2025
  • Police found the construction company name on inflammable polystyrene boards that firefighters found blocking some windows at the apartment complex.
    Catherine Nicholls, CNN Money, 26 Nov. 2025
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

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Cite this Entry

“Combustible.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/combustible. Accessed 8 Jan. 2026.

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