as in to burn
to set (something) on fire
see if you can enkindle some paper in the fireplace while I look for logs
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for enkindle
Verb
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Many works of Georges Méliès are even believed to have been burned as the original negatives, as the nitrate film stock is incredibly fragile and inflammable.—
Munis Raza,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Mar. 2026 -
Vlad returns to find the protagonist and John trapped in the burning cabin and pulls them out.—
Meg Walters,
Glamour,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The white phosphorus then ignites and burns intensely, destroying the agents by incinerating them – a method meant to reduce the risk of spreading the materials and to limit potential harm to civilians and the surrounding environment.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Mar. 2026
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Louisville guard Ryan Conwell sank a three to start the game, Udeh responded with a dunk on the other end, igniting the Watsco Center crowd, but then the Cardinals went on a 10-0 run to take a 13-2 lead.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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These seemingly innocuous actions can kindle dry grass, potentially triggering a wildfire.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
27 Feb. 2026
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Birthday celebrations in subsequent years seem hardly to have been calculated to kindle a sense of humility.—
Rebecca Mead,
New Yorker,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In a region where weather swings from paralyzing ice storms to scorching summers, these elements carry weight.—
Mary Grace Granados
Special Contributor,
Dallas Morning News,
5 Mar. 2026
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How to Cope When spending time outdoors in scorching weather, protect yourself by hydrating frequently, avoiding the hottest time of day, and seeking shade when possible.—
Becky Upham,
EverydayHealth.com,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The incident further inflamed rising tensions between Hungary and Ukraine, which are embroiled in a bitter feud over Hungary’s access to Russian oil through a pipeline that crosses Ukrainian territory.—
Justin Spike,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Pause before sharing something that inflames fear or confusion.—
Audra Berg,
Sun Sentinel,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Geraldine walked over to Felix and Jane’s for fish soup, through long autumn shadows in the park, haze rising like smoke from the grass, illumined by the low sun.—
Tessa Hadley,
New Yorker,
25 Jan. 2026
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These fruits are tiny stars, planets in arm’s reach, little moons reddened by desire and cunning, the sun, at each step, illumines the petals of the dogwood flowers, their bright yellow is dimmed by no leaf, on their still-bare branches the first fissure in winter opens up by magic.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 May 2025
Verb
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By night, the scene softens with storm lanterns lit by hotel staff, who also patrol the premises.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Mar. 2026
-
As Byron’s wife, Franny, Rossellini is a frosty woman who would rather light priceless paintings on fire than sit through a dinner with her husband.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Hezbollah fired missiles deep into Israel, setting off air raid sirens in central Israel and its commercial hub Tel Aviv, as interception blasts sounded as far as Jerusalem.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
10 Mar. 2026
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Through geolocating and verifying seven images, Human Rights Watch said Israel fired white phosphorus using artillery at residential areas in the southern Lebanese village of Yohmor.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
10 Mar. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Enkindle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enkindle. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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