as in burning
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 enkindling
Verb
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Coal ash is the residue left over from burning coal, typically produced at power plants.—
Karl Schneider,
IndyStar,
17 Feb. 2026 -
People mostly hibernate in their wood-and-tin houses, burning firewood to brave the freezing cold.—
Omkar Khandekar,
NPR,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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His father shone a spotlight on lunar exploration for Petro, igniting his desire to help solve the moon’s biggest mysteries.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
21 Feb. 2026
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In the southern part of the state, thunderstorms were wreaking havoc this week, with lightning igniting a grove of palm trees in San Pasqual Valley, scorching more than 100 on Tuesday.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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There’s a slender streak of humor, dry and combustible as kindling, in the film’s exploration of this absurd domestic setup, which lays out the rigid expectations of women and men alike in a punishingly conservative society.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
15 Feb. 2026
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Even minor parks or embers might be carried into leaves or grass, kindling a fire that can swiftly expand.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
29 Dec. 2025
Verb
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And, yes, Jung is scorching balls out of the gate.—
Evan Grant,
Dallas Morning News,
22 Feb. 2026
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The Ranger Road megafire is the largest, scorching more than 283,000 acres in Oklahoma and Kansas — an area nearly twice the size of Chicago.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Edwards, who plays for the Minnesota Timberwolves and was named the game’s most valuable player, gave all the credit to Wembanyama for lighting the competitive juices of his fellow All-Stars.—
Broderick Turner,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Feb. 2026
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People were lighting their stoves, there would be a hot meal tonight.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Feb. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Enkindling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enkindling. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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