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
Meanwhile, Mercury and Mars in Scorpio are igniting your money and resources sector, so expect conversations about finances, investments, or even overdue payments to heat up.
—
Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 5 Oct. 2025
The moment — delivered by Steinfeld’s character Mary on a humid New Orleans train platform — was clipped, memed and replayed across TikTok, igniting think pieces and parodies alike.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 3 Oct. 2025
New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers suffered a knee injury, feared to be a torn ACL, in the team’s Sunday afternoon win over the Los Angeles Chargers, igniting more conversation about playing on turf fields.
—Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
Authorities in Oregon announced a murder suspect who was mistakenly released from prison earlier this week is back in custody after igniting a multi-day manhunt.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 26 Sep. 2025
In the aftermath of his killing, many on the right, including the President, have responded by promising a crackdown on the left, igniting debates on political violence and free speech.
—Rebecca Schneid, Time, 22 Sep. 2025
The flames surged around the buildings, igniting Italian cypresses, the tapered trees that insurance agents call Roman candles, for their propensity to burn.
—Dana Goodyear, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
This allows more solar wind particles to stream in, igniting brighter, more widespread auroras.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 22 Sep. 2025
The show played out in three acts, with bursts of color igniting one after another along the ridge, tracing the mountain’s outline in rainbow-like waves, according to videos that have since been deleted.
—Peter Guo, NBC news, 22 Sep. 2025
Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 5 Oct. 2025
The moment — delivered by Steinfeld’s character Mary on a humid New Orleans train platform — was clipped, memed and replayed across TikTok, igniting think pieces and parodies alike.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 3 Oct. 2025
New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers suffered a knee injury, feared to be a torn ACL, in the team’s Sunday afternoon win over the Los Angeles Chargers, igniting more conversation about playing on turf fields.
—Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
Authorities in Oregon announced a murder suspect who was mistakenly released from prison earlier this week is back in custody after igniting a multi-day manhunt.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 26 Sep. 2025
In the aftermath of his killing, many on the right, including the President, have responded by promising a crackdown on the left, igniting debates on political violence and free speech.
—Rebecca Schneid, Time, 22 Sep. 2025
The flames surged around the buildings, igniting Italian cypresses, the tapered trees that insurance agents call Roman candles, for their propensity to burn.
—Dana Goodyear, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
This allows more solar wind particles to stream in, igniting brighter, more widespread auroras.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 22 Sep. 2025
The show played out in three acts, with bursts of color igniting one after another along the ridge, tracing the mountain’s outline in rainbow-like waves, according to videos that have since been deleted.
—Peter Guo, NBC news, 22 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for igniting
Verb
-
Little Fire has been burning on federal land managed by the United States Forest Service.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Halvorson was pulled from the burning debris in less than two minutes and rushed to waiting medics and flown in a CareFlite helicopter to Parkland Hospital in Dallas, with significant injuries.—
Shambhavi Rimal,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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With that in mind, the singer makes scorching sonic choices.—
Maya Georgi,
Rolling Stone,
3 Oct. 2025
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Le Creuset Stoneware Heritage Rectangular Dish This baking dish is crafted from durable stone that maintains even temperatures and prevents scorching.—
Emily Weaver,
PEOPLE,
20 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Science builds on prior insights, and a handy repository of past advances serves as kindling for future discoveries.—
Evan Bush,
NBC news,
15 Sep. 2025
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Even minor parks or embers might be carried into leaves or grass, kindling a fire that can swiftly expand.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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You’ll be escorted through a discreet door into a dark and moody dining den to gather around a 14-seat communal table, where the chefs will lead you through a multi-course omakase experience, torching, rolling and dashing bites with surprising toppings.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
21 Sep. 2025
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Mobs retaliated by torching buildings, looting banks and shops, and attacking politicians in their homes.—
Omkar Khandekar,
NPR,
20 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Igniting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/igniting. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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