as in burning
to set (something) on fire
tried using newspapers as kindling to ignite the logs in the fireplace
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Recent Examples of igniting
Prosecutors accused Farsaad of setting ablaze a gentleman's club and igniting a fire inside an electrical vault in early March.
—
Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
He was not only named Fan of the Game, but he was shown on the videoboard several times during the rest of the game, igniting a huge ovation every time and establishing himself as the team’s new talisman.
—Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026
Flights at Dubai International Airport were briefly suspended on Monday after a drone struck a nearby fuel tank, igniting a large fire.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 17 Mar. 2026
And yet another story was inscribed along the cliffs and slopes below a number of those viewpoints, where the wind had sent burning embers rocketing into the canyon, igniting extensive pockets of agave, yucca and various species of cactus.
—New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026
With so much at stake, igniting that foundational love of reading in young learners has never been more important, especially for parents competing with the warm, inviting glow of screens for their children’s attention.
—Nancy S. Grasmick, Baltimore Sun, 14 Mar. 2026
At least three ships were struck by unknown weapons, possibly Iranian drones, igniting fires and leaving at least three crew members missing from a Thai boat that had to be evacuated, authorities said.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 11 Mar. 2026
Lebanon has been pulled deep into the war in the Middle East since Hezbollah opened fire to avenge the killing of Iran's supreme leader, igniting an Israeli offensive which has killed nearly 500 people in Lebanon, according to Lebanese authorities − with the death toll rising by around 100 a day.
—Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026
Israel attacked oil depots on Sunday, igniting huge fires that smothered Tehran in thick, choking smoke, amid what residents have said is the heaviest bombing of the war so far.
—Patrick Reevell, ABC News, 10 Mar. 2026
Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
He was not only named Fan of the Game, but he was shown on the videoboard several times during the rest of the game, igniting a huge ovation every time and establishing himself as the team’s new talisman.
—Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026
Flights at Dubai International Airport were briefly suspended on Monday after a drone struck a nearby fuel tank, igniting a large fire.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 17 Mar. 2026
And yet another story was inscribed along the cliffs and slopes below a number of those viewpoints, where the wind had sent burning embers rocketing into the canyon, igniting extensive pockets of agave, yucca and various species of cactus.
—New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026
With so much at stake, igniting that foundational love of reading in young learners has never been more important, especially for parents competing with the warm, inviting glow of screens for their children’s attention.
—Nancy S. Grasmick, Baltimore Sun, 14 Mar. 2026
At least three ships were struck by unknown weapons, possibly Iranian drones, igniting fires and leaving at least three crew members missing from a Thai boat that had to be evacuated, authorities said.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 11 Mar. 2026
Lebanon has been pulled deep into the war in the Middle East since Hezbollah opened fire to avenge the killing of Iran's supreme leader, igniting an Israeli offensive which has killed nearly 500 people in Lebanon, according to Lebanese authorities − with the death toll rising by around 100 a day.
—Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026
Israel attacked oil depots on Sunday, igniting huge fires that smothered Tehran in thick, choking smoke, amid what residents have said is the heaviest bombing of the war so far.
—Patrick Reevell, ABC News, 10 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for igniting
Verb
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But in this case, the rain left Tehran's residents with sore throats and burning eyes.—
Arundathi Nair,
NPR,
17 Mar. 2026
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That’s been a burning question around Hollywood, as the couple’s company, Archewell Productions, has struggled to release bingeable content.—
Matt Donnelly,
Variety,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The death of a star is usually thought to be a violent and hostile place, filled with scorching radiation that destroys fragile molecules.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Mar. 2026
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In a region where weather swings from paralyzing ice storms to scorching summers, these elements carry weight.—
Mary Grace Granados
Special Contributor,
Dallas Morning News,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Even minor parks or embers might be carried into leaves or grass, kindling a fire that can swiftly expand.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
27 Feb. 2026
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There’s a slender streak of humor, dry and combustible as kindling, in the film’s exploration of this absurd domestic setup, which lays out the rigid expectations of women and men alike in a punishingly conservative society.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
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And Kara Dunn, who played Clemson while at Georgia Tech, has actual experience torching the Tigers.—
Ryan Kartje,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Mar. 2026
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Locals and tourists took shelter across Mexico amid a wave of retaliatory violence after government forces killed a powerful cartel leader, with gunmen blocking highways and torching cars.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Further inflaming tensions, Hungary on Thursday temporarily detained seven Ukrainian state bank employees and seized two Ukrainian armored cars carrying tens of millions of euros in cash and gold across Hungary on suspicion of money laundering.—
Justin Spike,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
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Trump then ordered the assassination of top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani in January 2020, further inflaming tensions between the two nations.—
Brian Bennett,
Time,
28 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Igniting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/igniting. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
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