enkindle

verb

in-ˈkin-dᵊl How to pronounce enkindle (audio)
Definition of enkindlenext
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
  1. burn
  2. ignite
  3. kindle
  4. scorch
  5. inflame
  6. illumine
  7. light
  8. fire
Verb
  • The house took eight years to build on the property where the couple’s previous home burned during the 2018 Woolsey fire, along with Albuquerque’s studio, archive and many of her paintings.
    — Jane Horowitz, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The wall's stonework showed signs of fire damage, while archaeologists also uncovered burned seeds and the remains of a charred wooden building nearby.
    — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of burn
Verb
  • Most include decks or private patios with firepits ignited by the turn of a switch.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Guyette and his colleagues increasingly suspected that fires were not natural but anthropogenic—ignited by people.
    — M. R. O’Connor, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of ignite
Verb
  • This complicates things for Teagan, who has begun to kindle something with Cam.
    — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Now that fall is on the horizon, hope has been kindled for abundant rainfall.
    — Robert Klose, Christian Science Monitor, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of kindle
Verb
  • The Norte fire — the most devastating blaze — scorched more than 570 acres in residential neighborhoods in San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano, damaging or destroying at least six homes.
    — Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
  • That was the update last week at a meeting of the Venus Exploration Analysis Group (VEXAG), a confab of scientists whose research interests focus on the scorching world just sunward from Earth.
    — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of scorch
Verb
  • The news has inflamed debate over the British government’s unprecedented decision to use terrorism powers to ban a group primarily known for property damage and disruption.
    — Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 15 Oct. 2026
  • After two months of migraines, Dominik said, the pain eased, but his face felt inflamed.
    — Amy Maxmen, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of inflame
Verb
  • Fantastic, illumined by periodic excursions into surrealism, as when the crew of a mysterious UFO boards a transpacific Kahuna Airlines jet midflight.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
  • 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
Definition of illumine
Verb
  • If Mick hadn’t come cruising into that playground, lights off?
    — George Saunders, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Rather than lighting an entire room, try task lighting like reading lamps, under-the-cabinet light strips, and desk lamps that illuminate a workspace.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of light
Verb
  • While many of the more contentious and controversial aspects of his life are presented in one-sided fashion, friend and former manager Rory Holloway’s still-raw sense of betrayal at Tyson firing his entire team is evoked with vivid irritation.
    — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Gillis was fired from SNL in 2019 for racist and homophobic comments, but has been invited back to host three times since.
    — Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of fire
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.

Browse Nearby Words

enjoys
enkindle
enkindled
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Enkindle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enkindle. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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