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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
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Recent Examples of conflagration
Land clearing and logging slash fed serial conflagrations, which blew up in the late 19th and early 20th centuries—the waning decades of the Little Ice Age.
—
Stephen Pyne, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Jan. 2025
Starting a war with Iran—and potentially setting off regional conflagration—would suck a tremendous amount of resources away from that effort.
—Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025
As a result of regulations prompted by the Lakeview fire, along with several other conflagrations, building materials are now fire-resistant, and most schools are equipped with smoke alarms, sprinklers, and extinguishers.
—Rascal Kemble-Curry, New York Daily News, 22 Mar. 2025
What begins as wildfire becomes an urban conflagration, with homes serving as the main fuel.
—Evan Bush, NBC News, 19 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for conflagration
Stephen Pyne, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Jan. 2025
Starting a war with Iran—and potentially setting off regional conflagration—would suck a tremendous amount of resources away from that effort.
—Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025
As a result of regulations prompted by the Lakeview fire, along with several other conflagrations, building materials are now fire-resistant, and most schools are equipped with smoke alarms, sprinklers, and extinguishers.
—Rascal Kemble-Curry, New York Daily News, 22 Mar. 2025
What begins as wildfire becomes an urban conflagration, with homes serving as the main fuel.
—Evan Bush, NBC News, 19 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for conflagration
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conflagration
Noun
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The documentary captures a sheriff’s deputy reminiscing about her car slowing in the middle of an inferno as her tires melted.—
Rebecca Ellis,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2025
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In between those stretches, Minnesota was a blazing inferno, hitting 20 of 35 attempts from beyond the arc to blitz the Lakers in Game 1.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
20 Apr. 2025
Noun
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These meetings initially took place virtually and then in person across different capitals, seeking a cessation of hostilities and the establishment of humanitarian corridors.—
Daniel R. Depetris,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Apr. 2025
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But Putin had other ideas, tying a halt in hostilities to the West readmitting certain Russian banks into the West’s financial network.—
Daniel DePetris,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Apr. 2025
Noun
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In the game, as well as in real life, striking flint on steel can start a fire.—
Jennifer Borresen,
USA Today,
22 Apr. 2025
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At this time, there is no data on the containment status of the fire and the cause has yet to be determined.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
22 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Royals celebrate Easter: King Charles and Queen Camilla step out with family On April 17, the king used his annual Easter message to reflect on war, human suffering and the heroism of those who risk their lives to help others.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
22 Apr. 2025
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His plan for containing turf wars between gangs was to allow monopolies to flourish.—
Stephania Taladrid,
New Yorker,
21 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Conflagration.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conflagration. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
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