as in to burn
to set (something) on fire
tried using newspapers as kindling to ignite the logs in the fireplace
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Recent Examples of ignite
The hammer caused a firing pin to strike the base of a cartridge, igniting the primer and firing the bullet.
—
Simon Akam, Vanity Fair, 2 Apr. 2026
The highly controversial policy is igniting a flurry of comments both for and against the new rules.
—Jessica Mekles, FOXNews.com, 2 Apr. 2026
Speaking up abruptly could easily ignite unnecessary conflict.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 2 Apr. 2026
If the idea of moving ignites something within you, trust that instinct.
—Bill Gurley, Fortune, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ignite
Simon Akam, Vanity Fair, 2 Apr. 2026
The highly controversial policy is igniting a flurry of comments both for and against the new rules.
—Jessica Mekles, FOXNews.com, 2 Apr. 2026
Speaking up abruptly could easily ignite unnecessary conflict.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 2 Apr. 2026
If the idea of moving ignites something within you, trust that instinct.
—Bill Gurley, Fortune, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ignite
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ignite
Verb
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The group then sprang into action, rushing to pull them from the burning vehicle and extinguish the flames.—
Michele Gile,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
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Dinner is focused around a large wood burning oven, putting out deliciously charred meats and veggies, and there’s a vibrant after-work drinks scene that always has this place pumping.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Last Tuesday night in Toronto, the Blue Jays’ Andres Gimenez scorched a 106 mph line drive back to the mound and off Feltner’s right hip.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
5 Apr. 2026
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Higher heat encourages better skin texture, but balance is key to keep the potato from scorching before the interior softens through.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Yearning to light some tech on fire is a relatable feeling these days, as generative artificial intelligence promises to supplant nearly every form of non-physical labor, social media wreaks havoc on the mental health of young people, and massive data centers loom as environmental blights.—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
8 Apr. 2026
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Balat then allegedly lit that device and ran with it before dropping it.—
Alexa Herrera,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The prospect of hundreds of thousands of Shiites on the move has inflamed Lebanese sensitivities about the country’s fragile sectarian balance.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 Apr. 2026
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His advice was not taken by CPAC organizers, and such tensions were enflamed prominently.—
Alex J. Rouhandeh,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Indianapolis police are investigating after multiple shots were fired into the home of Indianapolis City-County Councilor Ron Gibson on Monday.—
Leah Sarnoff,
ABC News,
7 Apr. 2026
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The Civilian Office of Police Accountability in 2022 recommended that Stillman be fired.—
CBS Chicago Team,
CBS News,
6 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ignite.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ignite. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.
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