as in ardent
having to do with or suggestive of fire
an igneous desert atmosphere igneous events such as volcanic eruptions
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Recent Examples of igneous
The area has since become a popular spot for gold mining due to the presence of the Yilgarn Craton, a major part of the Earth’s crust that consists of igneous and metamorphic rocks, per GeoScience Australia.
—
Saleen Martin, USA Today, 11 Nov. 2025
Today’s rich variety of igneous rocks forms thanks to complex processes, including remelting, adsorption, and exchange of chemical elements, happening in Earth’s crust and driven by plate tectonics.
—David Bressan, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
In its own storied past, Earth experienced prolonged eruptions of lava in single regions, known as large igneous provinces (LIPs), that lasted for hundreds of thousands and perhaps millions of years.
—Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
The Canyon was formed millions of years ago through the uplift of igneous and metamorphic rock and carved by the Colorado River through erosion.
—Michael Salerno, AZCentral.com, 2 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for igneous
Saleen Martin, USA Today, 11 Nov. 2025
Today’s rich variety of igneous rocks forms thanks to complex processes, including remelting, adsorption, and exchange of chemical elements, happening in Earth’s crust and driven by plate tectonics.
—David Bressan, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
In its own storied past, Earth experienced prolonged eruptions of lava in single regions, known as large igneous provinces (LIPs), that lasted for hundreds of thousands and perhaps millions of years.
—Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
The Canyon was formed millions of years ago through the uplift of igneous and metamorphic rock and carved by the Colorado River through erosion.
—Michael Salerno, AZCentral.com, 2 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for igneous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for igneous
Adjective
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Doomed endorsements Trump has retained an ardent core of MAGA followers throughout his time in office, making his endorsement coveted in primaries.—
Zac Anderson,
USA Today,
17 Feb. 2026
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But both Guttenberg and Wasserman Schultz expressed hope that a reasonable proposal can meet the approval of the Second Amendment’s most ardent defenders.—
Rafael Olmeda,
Sun Sentinel,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Another brilliant show of Earth's power was caught on camera over the weekend when a geyser of molten rock burst from the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
16 Feb. 2026
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Scientists have long wondered how much hydrogen might be buried in Earth’s molten metal engine, and have analyzed chemical interactions in iron to try to estimate the metallic core’s hydrogen reservoir.—
Mindy Weisberger,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The prosecutors and the defense team became heated with one another repeatedly over the evidence, witness scheduling and lines of questioning.—
Sofia Saric,
Miami Herald,
20 Feb. 2026
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The property also included a ranch office, a firehouse and a seven-bay heated garage.—
Susan Montoya Bryan,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The Freak from The Girls Deli in North Park is a hot sandwich with salty pastrami, brisket, melted jack cheese, bacon, mustard, spicy sriracha mayo, onions, and jalapeños.—
Carlos Rico,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026
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The show captures the frenzy of all-consuming lust and the chaos that arises in the wake of a blazing hot relationship without true depth or knowledge of the other partner.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The footage shows members of the divided House Targaryen going into battle, with plenty of fiery dragon action.—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
19 Feb. 2026
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Where was my fiery disdain when ICE invaded (and is still invading) Portland, Chicago, and Los Angeles last year?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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In another part of the conservatory, the Cloud Forest mimics the cool-moist ecology of the tropical highlands.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 Feb. 2026
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Luckily, the Far Side, with its refreshing notes of cilantro, dill, pineapple, and tomatillo, allowed the duo to regroup, taking solace in what tasted like a tropical salsa.—
Sheldon Pearce,
New Yorker,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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More humane methods of killing lobsters pre-boiling include a sharp knife through the head, electrical stunning, or freezing.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
29 Dec. 2025
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Agrawal and her team studied ionic liquids — salts that are liquid at sub-boiling temperatures (below 212 degrees Fahrenheit, or 100 degrees Celsius) — as a potential hospitable environment for life.—
Stefanie Waldek,
Space.com,
13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Saturated in the heatwave colors of Australia’s scorching Red Center, with its searing blue skies and bright orange sands, Wolfram makes the grim, lawless backwater of Wake in Fright seem positively cosmopolitan by comparison.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
17 Feb. 2026
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Caramelizing lemon — by grilling, searing or sauteéing — is done in many Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisines.—
Carolynn Carreño,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Igneous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/igneous. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
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