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
Meta Platforms, under the leadership of CEO Mark Zuckerberg, has ignited a fierce battle for artificial intelligence (AI) talent, offering compensation packages that have stunned Silicon Valley and the global tech industry.
—
Ashley Lutz, Fortune, 11 July 2025
As Dee and Dennis raced to loot their parents' house, Charlie, Frank, and Mac found that Philly strippers (including future stars Tiffany Haddish and Natasha Leggero) were moved to dispense free lap dances on guys in wheelchairs, a lightbulb moment that ignited the bond between Charlie and Frank.
—Dennis Perkins, EW.com, 10 July 2025
One day after being scratched from the lineup with low-back tightness, Ronald Acuña Jr. returned in spectacular fashion, hitting two homers including a mammoth shot to start the game and ignite a recently moribund Atlanta Braves offense and help end their 0-for California skid.
—David O'Brien, New York Times, 10 July 2025
Passing thunderstorms could prompt sudden increases in wind speeds, contributing to fire risk should lightning strike and ignite a flame.
—Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for ignite
Ashley Lutz, Fortune, 11 July 2025
As Dee and Dennis raced to loot their parents' house, Charlie, Frank, and Mac found that Philly strippers (including future stars Tiffany Haddish and Natasha Leggero) were moved to dispense free lap dances on guys in wheelchairs, a lightbulb moment that ignited the bond between Charlie and Frank.
—Dennis Perkins, EW.com, 10 July 2025
One day after being scratched from the lineup with low-back tightness, Ronald Acuña Jr. returned in spectacular fashion, hitting two homers including a mammoth shot to start the game and ignite a recently moribund Atlanta Braves offense and help end their 0-for California skid.
—David O'Brien, New York Times, 10 July 2025
Passing thunderstorms could prompt sudden increases in wind speeds, contributing to fire risk should lightning strike and ignite a flame.
—Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for ignite
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ignite
Verb
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The pair, who met as college undergrads, both burned with idealism and recognized their privilege could be leveraged for a game-changing idea.—
Carole Horst,
Variety,
13 Sep. 2023
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The Ellen MacArthur Foundation promotes circular fashion and says that, in the United States, an amount of clothing equal to a garbage truck is ferried to landfills or burned every second.—
Neeti Mehra,
Treehugger,
13 Sep. 2023
Verb
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Lessons learned from wildfires that scorched local canyon communities in the recent past — the Coastal fire, the Aliso fire and the Bond fire — were pulled in and law enforcement personnel from Pasadena spoke about their experiences in the Eaton fire in January.—
Erika I. Ritchie,
Oc Register,
10 July 2025
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That ridge is currently parked over Arizona, acting like a giant atmospheric lid creating scorching daytime temperatures and warm nights beneath.—
Hayleigh Evans,
AZCentral.com,
9 July 2025
Verb
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At blue hour, Abe captured the foreground—the internal walls and water—gently lit by the setting sun.—
Carlyn Kranking,
Smithsonian Magazine,
14 July 2025
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Relatives said McFarlane went out with his buddies to celebrate Independence Day, and joined with a crowd of revelers lighting fireworks a few blocks from his home.—
Rebecca White,
New York Daily News,
13 July 2025
Verb
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The posters inflamed heated passion among those who put them up to raise awareness of the hostages and those who tore them down to show their opposition to Israel’s subsequent Gaza offensive.—
Mike Fleming Jr,
Deadline,
14 July 2025
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Newsom and Bass have condemned Trump’s deployment of military forces for inflaming tensions in the city, but the Administration has argued that the deployment was necessary to assist ICE officials in carrying out operations.—
Chad de Guzman,
Time,
8 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ignite.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ignite. Accessed 24 Jul. 2025.
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