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
Miley Cyrus After winning the first two Grammys of her nearly 20-year-career in February and igniting the ceremony with the most spirited performance of the night, Cyrus seemed destined to become a permanent fixture on the nominations chart.
—
Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 7 Nov. 2025
Advertisement Far from igniting a baby boom, the White House plan will only slightly decrease costs and fail people who most need IVF to grow their families.
—Madison Chapman, Time, 30 Oct. 2025
After a tumultuous back-and-forth situation that sees Lawrence and Issa re-igniting the flame, an accidental pregnancy for Condola and Lawrence flips everything on its head.
—John Ortved, Vogue, 29 Oct. 2025
Despite her individual success, the Wings fell to a 10-34 record, last place in the league standings, promptly firing coach Chris Koclanes and igniting a search for a new bench boss.
—Rowan Fisher-Shotton, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
So Hernandez was allowed to compete as a girl, become a national spectacle, and then play out a final high school volleyball season, igniting protests from opponents and teammates alike.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2025
But perhaps more importantly, Cork Tree helped the band become the therapists pumping through the speakers of a whole generation of skinny jean-wearing teens, igniting the pop-punk and emo music scene into a blazing force for the masses.
—Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 22 Oct. 2025
Aeration makes big openings in the soil that allow valuable elements to filter in, re-igniting the soil’s microbial life that will further assist with creating healthy soil conditions.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Oct. 2025
Two people were killed and 10 had to be rescued after debris from a drone attack hit a 16-story residential building in Kyiv’s Dniprovskiy district, igniting a fire, according to Kyiv’s mayor Vitali Klitschko and the Kyiv city office.
—Michael Rios, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2025
Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 7 Nov. 2025
Advertisement Far from igniting a baby boom, the White House plan will only slightly decrease costs and fail people who most need IVF to grow their families.
—Madison Chapman, Time, 30 Oct. 2025
After a tumultuous back-and-forth situation that sees Lawrence and Issa re-igniting the flame, an accidental pregnancy for Condola and Lawrence flips everything on its head.
—John Ortved, Vogue, 29 Oct. 2025
Despite her individual success, the Wings fell to a 10-34 record, last place in the league standings, promptly firing coach Chris Koclanes and igniting a search for a new bench boss.
—Rowan Fisher-Shotton, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
So Hernandez was allowed to compete as a girl, become a national spectacle, and then play out a final high school volleyball season, igniting protests from opponents and teammates alike.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2025
But perhaps more importantly, Cork Tree helped the band become the therapists pumping through the speakers of a whole generation of skinny jean-wearing teens, igniting the pop-punk and emo music scene into a blazing force for the masses.
—Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 22 Oct. 2025
Aeration makes big openings in the soil that allow valuable elements to filter in, re-igniting the soil’s microbial life that will further assist with creating healthy soil conditions.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Oct. 2025
Two people were killed and 10 had to be rescued after debris from a drone attack hit a 16-story residential building in Kyiv’s Dniprovskiy district, igniting a fire, according to Kyiv’s mayor Vitali Klitschko and the Kyiv city office.
—Michael Rios, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for igniting
Verb
-
The prescribed fire has been burning on federal land managed by the United States Forest Service for four days.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The company built a retail and residential complex around the county’s Coconut Grove Metrorail station, and Martin also is pitching an incinerator site in western Miami-Dade as an alternative to the Levine Cava plan to rebuild the trash-burning facility in Doral.—
Douglas Hanks,
Miami Herald,
4 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
When Liverpool and Arsenal last met, in late August, a scorching late Dominik Szoboszlai free kick saw the reigning champions strike an ominous early blow in the title race, jumping three points ahead of their London rivals.—
Jack Bantock,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
-
As scorching sunshine gives way to dusk, enthusiastic attendees transition from waiting in clusters to jumping in anticipation of the pop-rock superstar’s appearance.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
27 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Even minor parks or embers might be carried into leaves or grass, kindling a fire that can swiftly expand.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
29 Dec. 2025
-
Refrain from kindling fires with debris or any other materials during an air quality alert.—
Southern California Weather Report,
Oc Register,
20 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
The Jayhawks won despite TCU torching the KU defense for 15 made 3s on 35 attempts.—
Gary Bedore,
Kansas City Star,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The trial for New Jersey businessman Paul Caneiro for allegedly murdering four family members and torching two homes — including his own — is set to begin Monday.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Visiting the shrine as prime minister would risk inflaming anger in the region.—
Jordan King,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Hollywood these days feels really fearful of enflaming conservative ire.—
David Amsden,
Rolling Stone,
7 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Igniting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/igniting. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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