as in burns
to set (something) on fire
tried using newspapers as kindling to ignite the logs in the fireplace
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of ignites
This foliage and dead thatch ignites very quickly and burns fast.
—
Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 21 May 2026
The number of grid fins has been reduced from four to three, and they have been lowered on the vehicle to protect them during hot staging—when the Starship upper stage ignites its engines while still attached to the booster stage.
—ArsTechnica, 18 May 2026
As their relationship re-ignites, Alex’s growing bond with Maxy forces a deadly choice between maternal instinct and romantic obsession.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 12 May 2026
The maternal energy of the flower ignites Cancer's emotions.
—Lisa Stardust, PEOPLE, 9 May 2026
Maris re-ignites a relationship with Alex, a devoted old flame whose growing love for Maxy forces her to make a deadly choice.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 7 May 2026
Lindsay jokes that Kyle lost his wedding ring but found a DJ career, which lights the long fuse that ignites the whole evening.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 6 May 2026
But when Tiffany gets pregnant with her first child and Carolyn simultaneously sells an essay to The New Yorker, mutual jealousy ignites.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
Like an enzyme that works as a catalyst to speed up a chemical reaction, collaboration ignites new ideas for conjectures.
—Chase Hunter, Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2026
Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 21 May 2026
The number of grid fins has been reduced from four to three, and they have been lowered on the vehicle to protect them during hot staging—when the Starship upper stage ignites its engines while still attached to the booster stage.
—ArsTechnica, 18 May 2026
As their relationship re-ignites, Alex’s growing bond with Maxy forces a deadly choice between maternal instinct and romantic obsession.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 12 May 2026
The maternal energy of the flower ignites Cancer's emotions.
—Lisa Stardust, PEOPLE, 9 May 2026
Maris re-ignites a relationship with Alex, a devoted old flame whose growing love for Maxy forces her to make a deadly choice.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 7 May 2026
Lindsay jokes that Kyle lost his wedding ring but found a DJ career, which lights the long fuse that ignites the whole evening.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 6 May 2026
But when Tiffany gets pregnant with her first child and Carolyn simultaneously sells an essay to The New Yorker, mutual jealousy ignites.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
Like an enzyme that works as a catalyst to speed up a chemical reaction, collaboration ignites new ideas for conjectures.
—Chase Hunter, Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ignites
Verb
-
Drafty rooms, open windows, ceiling fans, and uneven surfaces can disrupt the flame, causing uneven melting, excessive soot, or wax that burns faster on one side than the other.—
Alexandra Emanuelli,
Southern Living,
28 May 2026
-
No amount of venture capital spin can alter the basic math of a business model that burns billions to eliminate its own revenue stream.—
Sunil Sharan,
Fortune,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
The United Kingdom smashed a century-old temperature record for the second time in 24 hours on Tuesday as a spring heat wave scorches parts of Western Europe, triggering government warnings about risks to life.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 May 2026
-
Tucson will also be at or near record temperatures through March 27 as the state’s unprecedented heat wave scorches on, the weather service said.—
Ray Stern,
AZCentral.com,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Asthma is a chronic condition that inflames the airways and can make breathing difficult.—
Sanja Jelic,
Verywell Health,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The episode inflames the diplomatic spat between the two countries that began over Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s comments about Taiwan.—
J.D. Capelouto,
semafor.com,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
While Martin Scorsese called it one of the scariest movies of all time, The Uninvited kindles a wonderful romance between Rick and Stella.—
Steven Thrash,
Entertainment Weekly,
25 Oct. 2025
-
The star of Big Little Lies confessed her new film, Caught Stealing, kindles a powerful yearning for some aspects of the era.—
Ryan Coleman,
EW.com,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
When the radar or the EO/IR sensor detects an inbound projectile, the system calculates intercept geometry and fires a countermeasure either a hard-kill interceptor or a soft-kill electronic jammer, depending on system type within milliseconds.—
Aditya Jadhav,
Interesting Engineering,
28 May 2026
-
Garcia is opening his car door at that very moment, and fires nine shots at Denis with his 9 mm Glock pistol as Denis speeds toward and past him.—
Ella Moore,
Miami Herald,
19 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ignites.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ignites. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
