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1
as in inferno
a destructive burning the historic tavern burned to the ground in a horrible conflagration

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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

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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 conflagration But unspecified family tensions, combined with a conflagration between Lindsie and Julie led to her sudden departure, and a feud that Savannah previously claimed on Back to Reality may never be resolved. Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Sep. 2025 King commanding the stage with inventive conflagrations, fleet unison fingerwork by Collier and Philion, Rogers-Kaufman offering solos both cerebral and thrilling, and Damien winging through long features with the agility of a sparrow. Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2025 Then light the needles in several places, starting at the base, and fan the flames into a conflagration. Peter Barrett, Outside, 30 Aug. 2025 And bumps in the early light curve of a supernova could indicate the presence of a close companion – a nearby star, brown dwarf or giant planet – that has become caught up in the conflagration. Keith Cooper, Space.com, 19 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for conflagration
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conflagration
Noun
  • Spoelstra was remarkably upbeat before the game, offering gratitude for the outpouring of support from the NBA community and expressing relief that nobody was injured in the inferno.
    Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 8 Nov. 2025
  • After it was revealed that Vince didn't make it out of the inferno, his son Bode (Max Thieriot) and wife Sharon (Diane Farr) were devastated by the loss.
    Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • What Happens Next The current lull in hostilities may be more strategic than permanent, offering a brief window for both sides to reassess and recalibrate.
    Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
  • One can be sure that the utility of having hostilities with Venezuela for this case is not lost on the administration.
    David Smilde, Time, 3 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Adding fuel to the fire, China also released at least four WWII films this year, including some that depict the Nanjing Massacre and the sinking of a Japanese vessel.
    Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 12 Nov. 2025
  • An ugly opening half, which featured the teams combining for 6-of-24 shooting in the game’s first 10 minutes, saw the visiting Wildcats catch fire from beyond the arc.
    Hunter Bailey, Charlotte Observer, 12 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Just a few months ago, McKenna was weighing the two schools against each other, the Spartans finishing as runners-up in his historic recruiting war.
    Scott Wheeler, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
  • From the very first days of the First World War, the German Empire was looking for someone capable of sparking a revolution in Russia and forcing the country to withdraw from the war with Germany — so that the Germans could focus their forces on fighting the British and the French.
    Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 8 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Conflagration.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conflagration. Accessed 29 Nov. 2025.

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