as in burning
being on fire
combusting oxygen tanks turned the fire on the evacuees' bus into a raging inferno
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in glowing
to be on fire especially brightly
anthracite, which is naturally hard, combusts more cleanly than bituminous coal
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 combusting
Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 14 Mar. 2026
Crews detected no visible signs of the fire, such as flames, smoke or perceptibly combusting material.
—Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY, 3 Oct. 2024
After dozens of fires caused by combusting batteries used in electric scooters and bikes in recent years, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors is set to consider imposing new restrictions on the rechargeable devices on Tuesday.
—Nora Mishanec, San Francisco Chronicle, 4 Dec. 2023
Verb
The element of surprise has mostly worn off, even if Grace tells Faith that one never really gets used to people spontaneously combusting right in front of you.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 14 Mar. 2026
Crews detected no visible signs of the fire, such as flames, smoke or perceptibly combusting material.
—Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY, 3 Oct. 2024
After dozens of fires caused by combusting batteries used in electric scooters and bikes in recent years, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors is set to consider imposing new restrictions on the rechargeable devices on Tuesday.
—Nora Mishanec, San Francisco Chronicle, 4 Dec. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for combusting
Adjective
-
Some people drove or walked by, staring, and a video of the cross-burning gained traction online.—
Hallie Golden,
Los Angeles Times,
10 June 2026
-
An important insider just shed light on one of the most burning questions in reality TV.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
Cellphone footage shows two glowing red orbs floating across the sky.—
Collin Binkley,
Fortune,
15 June 2026
-
Speaking about the division race during the teams series this week, New York Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns offered a glowing assessment of the rival club that has become one of the National League’s toughest opponents.—
Peter Chawaga,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
Adjective
-
Soon enough, they’re joined by Thomas and oldest brother Franck, the brains of the operation, played by Magimel in a tan suit and semi-transparent shades— less flaming psychopath, more two-bit gangster given his Three Stooges-esque, family-run operation.—
Beatrice Loayza,
Variety,
22 May 2026
-
One young man, his shirt off and loosely draped around his neck along with a Santa Muerte necklace, sports tattoos of a Kalashnikov rifle and a flaming skull, regarding the camera with bedroom eyes.—
Chris Wiley,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Her Alice becomes a blazing embodiment of the emotional maelstrom inside every woman who is expected to somehow put on a supportive, understanding face no matter how outrageous or impossible the situation.—
Yvonne Villarreal,
Los Angeles Times,
12 June 2026
-
Hunters often lit blazing fires, which disoriented and frightened the elk, and as many animals as possible were killed.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 June 2026
Adjective
-
Casting two of the most smoldering contemporary actors on the planet clearly stacks the deck, and carries on the long tradition of pairing a dashing figure of brooding handsomeness (Laurence Olivier, Ralph Fiennes) with a breathless screen beauty (Merle Oberon, Juliette Binoche).—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Combusting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/combusting. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
