as in burns
to set (something) on fire
tried using newspapers as kindling to ignite the logs in the fireplace
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Recent Examples of ignites
If a battery ignites, the best thing to do is to immediately leave and call 911.
—
Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2026
The Night Circus ignites magical realism and rivals-to-lovers alongside a satisfying romance.
—Literary Hub, 3 Apr. 2026
The story centers on a blackmail war that ignites at an elite country club after two young employees witness an alarming fight between their boss and his wife.
—Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 1 Apr. 2026
After the engines start up and the booster ignites, umbilical separation, or the disconnecting of power cables and fuel lines, will take place — the last step before the rocket launches.
—Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 1 Apr. 2026
At that point, things will move quickly as the rocket’s various systems switch to internal battery power, the main engines power up and, at the T-minus 0 mark, the booster finally ignites for liftoff.
—Charlie Gile, NBC news, 1 Apr. 2026
If the idea of moving ignites something within you, trust that instinct.
—Bill Gurley, Fortune, 1 Apr. 2026
One small spark of kindness ignites a spreading wildfire of kindness.
—Chris John Amorosino, Hartford Courant, 26 Mar. 2026
This sort of ignites this need to fill this gap.
—Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Mar. 2026
Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2026
The Night Circus ignites magical realism and rivals-to-lovers alongside a satisfying romance.
—Literary Hub, 3 Apr. 2026
The story centers on a blackmail war that ignites at an elite country club after two young employees witness an alarming fight between their boss and his wife.
—Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 1 Apr. 2026
After the engines start up and the booster ignites, umbilical separation, or the disconnecting of power cables and fuel lines, will take place — the last step before the rocket launches.
—Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 1 Apr. 2026
At that point, things will move quickly as the rocket’s various systems switch to internal battery power, the main engines power up and, at the T-minus 0 mark, the booster finally ignites for liftoff.
—Charlie Gile, NBC news, 1 Apr. 2026
If the idea of moving ignites something within you, trust that instinct.
—Bill Gurley, Fortune, 1 Apr. 2026
One small spark of kindness ignites a spreading wildfire of kindness.
—Chris John Amorosino, Hartford Courant, 26 Mar. 2026
This sort of ignites this need to fill this gap.
—Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ignites
Verb
-
Although other correction burns like that had been planned for other days, Henfling said this was the first time one was actually necessary since the astronauts left Earth's orbit.—
Denise Chow,
NBC news,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Once all teams give the go-ahead, Integrity will continue along its route, with the help of a few trajectory correction burns along the way to keep the spacecraft precisely on course for splashdown.—
Briana Alvarado,
ABC News,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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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
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As the world around them scorches under record heat, a family walks into the woods, asking what the future holds in this thermal dystopia.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
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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
-
Sensational or biased language inflames opinion before readers learn the facts.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
7 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
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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
-
This woman fires her immediately.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
9 Apr. 2026
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After release, the spaceplane fires its rocket engine and climbs to the edge of space.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ignites.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ignites. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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