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
But like the spark that ignites a giant bonfire, that battle was the beginning of something new.
—
Sayantani Dasgupta
february 24, Literary Hub, 24 Feb. 2026
Please avoid any activities that may cause a spark or a flame; any flame that ignites has the potential of spreading rapidly.
—Michael Autovino, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2026
Then a tiny amount of fuel is injected right at the spark head as the plug ignites.
—New Atlas, 23 Feb. 2026
Jodie Turner-Smith presented Teyana Taylor with the Vanguard Spotlight Award, which celebrates a trailblazer who ignites the imaginations of cognoscenti and audiences alike.
—Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 12 Feb. 2026
This time, his Bride (Buckley) not only comes alive, but also ignites a cultural revolution as the outlaw lovers embark on a cross-country crime spree.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Feb. 2026
Think again, as the California Zephyr, the longest route in America crosses through seven states, carving up Colorado’s canyons, then passing into Utah where the sun ignites mesas into flaming towers of rock.
—Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Jan. 2026
When the water temperature in the water heater dips below the set level on the thermostat, the pilot light ignites the natural gas that is flowing through the gas regulator valve to light the burner.
—Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 28 Jan. 2026
Vivienne’s return ignites events in Season 3 and further upends Max’s already complicated relationship with Ellis.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 28 Jan. 2026
Sayantani Dasgupta
february 24, Literary Hub, 24 Feb. 2026
Please avoid any activities that may cause a spark or a flame; any flame that ignites has the potential of spreading rapidly.
—Michael Autovino, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2026
Then a tiny amount of fuel is injected right at the spark head as the plug ignites.
—New Atlas, 23 Feb. 2026
Jodie Turner-Smith presented Teyana Taylor with the Vanguard Spotlight Award, which celebrates a trailblazer who ignites the imaginations of cognoscenti and audiences alike.
—Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 12 Feb. 2026
This time, his Bride (Buckley) not only comes alive, but also ignites a cultural revolution as the outlaw lovers embark on a cross-country crime spree.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Feb. 2026
Think again, as the California Zephyr, the longest route in America crosses through seven states, carving up Colorado’s canyons, then passing into Utah where the sun ignites mesas into flaming towers of rock.
—Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Jan. 2026
When the water temperature in the water heater dips below the set level on the thermostat, the pilot light ignites the natural gas that is flowing through the gas regulator valve to light the burner.
—Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 28 Jan. 2026
Vivienne’s return ignites events in Season 3 and further upends Max’s already complicated relationship with Ellis.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 28 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ignites
Verb
-
But Mom, though we are surrounded by so much darkness and uncertainty, our love burns bright.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
2 Mar. 2026
-
But her desire to compete at a high level still burns deep.—
Cedric Golden,
Austin American Statesman,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
That’s the difference between fury that scorches everything in sight and anger that fuels justice.—
Marc Brackett,
Time,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
This is the kind of journalism that makes people distrust anything the news media tell us, and potentially wrongly inflames the public.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Why vocabulary avoidance creates the space populists fill European governments spent a decade learning that sloppy language inflames prejudice.—
Güney Yıldız,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 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
-
After catching Whitney showboating on CNN, Henry fires Jacob, their accountant on the take.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Levi shoves someone just out of the frame, demands to know who threw stones, and later fires a shot, seemingly away from the crowd.—
Sam Metz,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ignites.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ignites. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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