1
2
as in hostilities
a state of armed violent struggle between states, nations, or groups
what began as a skirmish over disputed territory erupted into a conflagration that swept the continent
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 conflagration
The sustained campaign courts state collapse and regional conflagration.
—
Bobby Ghosh, Time, 11 Jan. 2026
The damage was largely contained to what firefighters call a wildland-urban interface fire, not a larger conflagration like the one developing in the Palisades.
—Literary Hub, 8 Jan. 2026
So what the new age of disaster is, and what the fire of the future is, is a conflagration, excuse the term, of several things.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 7 Jan. 2026
The conflagration was under control, but still burning, hours after the blaze broke out, Esposito said.
—Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for conflagration
Bobby Ghosh, Time, 11 Jan. 2026
The damage was largely contained to what firefighters call a wildland-urban interface fire, not a larger conflagration like the one developing in the Palisades.
—Literary Hub, 8 Jan. 2026
So what the new age of disaster is, and what the fire of the future is, is a conflagration, excuse the term, of several things.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 7 Jan. 2026
The conflagration was under control, but still burning, hours after the blaze broke out, Esposito said.
—Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for conflagration
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conflagration
Noun
-
The inferno destroyed most of the town of Paradise in Northern California and killed 85 people.—
Melody Petersen,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Like a blazing inferno, the riot spreads swiftly and suddenly.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Less inviting and contemplative than aggressive and giddy, its priority isn’t to ask the audience to step outside their own perspective and examine how their behavior may contribute to similar hostilities.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
13 Feb. 2026
-
This year’s cohort of activists, while quieter than in the past as a result of the ongoing hostilities, is striving to amplify the voices suppressed and introduce emerging artists to a wider audience.—
Tina Ahmadi Krol,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Carvalho discussed the event’s main goal, to mark a year since the beginning of recovery from the Altadena and Pacific Palisades fires in January of 2025.—
Daily News,
Daily News,
18 Feb. 2026
-
While a celebratory mood spreads across the country, survivors of a deadly fire in Hong Kong are still grieving with little to celebrate, like this man who lost his wife in the blaze.—
CNN staff,
CNN Money,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The term of art for this sort of battlefield confusion is fog of war.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
18 Feb. 2026
-
At least 77 people were killed and dozens injured in various attacks, mostly by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, in densely populated areas, according to Sudan Doctors Network, a group that tracks violence through the war.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Conflagration.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conflagration. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
