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
Tensions spiked in 2016 when the government attempted to impose French in English-speaking regions’ schools and courts, igniting protests that security forces violently repressed.
—
ABC News, 16 Apr. 2026
On Friday, a 20-year-old man named Daniel Moreno-Gama traveled from Spring, Texas, to San Francisco’s Pacific Heights neighborhood and hurled an incendiary device at the gate of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s $27 million home, igniting a fire on the exterior gate.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 14 Apr. 2026
The 29-year-old man accused of igniting the massive six-alarm fire that destroyed an Ontario warehouse last week pleaded not guilty to state charges in a San Bernardino County courtroom on Monday.
—Austin Turner, CBS News, 13 Apr. 2026
The bride’s shocking personal revelation triggers her maid of honor and sends the groom into a tailspin, igniting wedding reception chaos that overshadows their characters’ union from the start.
—Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 13 Apr. 2026
Older homes made of wood, which are more prone to igniting, are dotted throughout.
—Lauren Sommer, NPR, 10 Apr. 2026
Right now, utilities can be on the hook for billions of dollars in damages from a wildfire if their equipment is involved in igniting it.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2026
In fact, only about four percent of them begin with gasoline igniting, so the chances of starting a fire at the gas station are extremely slim.
—Laura Kiniry, Popular Science, 9 Apr. 2026
The utility’s transmission line is now suspected of igniting the January 2025 Eaton fire, which killed 19 and destroyed thousands of homes.
—Melody Petersen, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
ABC News, 16 Apr. 2026
On Friday, a 20-year-old man named Daniel Moreno-Gama traveled from Spring, Texas, to San Francisco’s Pacific Heights neighborhood and hurled an incendiary device at the gate of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s $27 million home, igniting a fire on the exterior gate.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 14 Apr. 2026
The 29-year-old man accused of igniting the massive six-alarm fire that destroyed an Ontario warehouse last week pleaded not guilty to state charges in a San Bernardino County courtroom on Monday.
—Austin Turner, CBS News, 13 Apr. 2026
The bride’s shocking personal revelation triggers her maid of honor and sends the groom into a tailspin, igniting wedding reception chaos that overshadows their characters’ union from the start.
—Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 13 Apr. 2026
Older homes made of wood, which are more prone to igniting, are dotted throughout.
—Lauren Sommer, NPR, 10 Apr. 2026
Right now, utilities can be on the hook for billions of dollars in damages from a wildfire if their equipment is involved in igniting it.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2026
In fact, only about four percent of them begin with gasoline igniting, so the chances of starting a fire at the gas station are extremely slim.
—Laura Kiniry, Popular Science, 9 Apr. 2026
The utility’s transmission line is now suspected of igniting the January 2025 Eaton fire, which killed 19 and destroyed thousands of homes.
—Melody Petersen, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for igniting
Verb
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An 80-year-old woman and a 59-year-old man were pulled from the burning building.—
Elijah Westbrook,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
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Our Thoughts on the Candle Who knew burning cash could smell so good?—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Lakers were connected, apparently having had time to adjust to the loss of their two leading scorers, LeBron James acting as a brilliant playmaker for scorching hot shooters like Kennard, who hit all five of his treys in scoring a career playoff-high 27 points.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Apr. 2026
-
Phoenix's Jalen Green was scorching hot in the two play-in games.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Rather than have their payroll and egos be kindling for clubhouse dysfunction, the Dodgers have found a formula to keep their winning ways going.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
25 Mar. 2026
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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,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Undrafted out of high school, Torkelson matriculated to Arizona State and started torching college pitching, eventually crushing Barry Bonds’ school record for home runs by a freshman.—
Stephen J. Nesbitt,
New York Times,
15 Apr. 2026
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Carter, who appeared in only 27 of Sacramento’s first 71 games this season, went 11 of 18 from the field and 6 of 11 from 3-point range, torching a Golden State squad that didn’t want him last summer when the Kings and Warriors discussed a trade for Jonathan Kuminga.—
Jason Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Trump’s decision to send ICE agents to the airports risks inflaming the situation, lawmakers have said.—
Kevin Freking,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Mar. 2026
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The bacterium can also infiltrate the bloodstream, inflaming blood vessels, which may leave lasting damage even in people who recover from the initial infection.—
Lauren J. Young,
Scientific American,
21 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Igniting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/igniting. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
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