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
The steam drives the engine’s turbopumps, while the oxygen combusts with the kerosene, with the mixture igniting spontaneously.
—
New Atlas, 25 Feb. 2026
His father shone a spotlight on lunar exploration for Petro, igniting his desire to help solve the moon’s biggest mysteries.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 21 Feb. 2026
In the southern part of the state, thunderstorms were wreaking havoc this week, with lightning igniting a grove of palm trees in San Pasqual Valley, scorching more than 100 on Tuesday.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
The largest, the Ranger Road Fire, has burned 145,000 acres since igniting in Oklahoma's Beaver County on Tuesday and crossing into Kansas, according to fire officials.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 18 Feb. 2026
After Sweden accused Canada of double-touching stones on Friday, igniting a global controversy, Canadian curler Marc Kennedy leveled allegations against the Swedes of improperly filming his delivery.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 15 Feb. 2026
Brave Pullman porters carried the Chicago Defender with coverage of the funeral on trains headed south from Chicago, sparking outrage and igniting a movement.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 12 Feb. 2026
Lawmakers are considering a statewide bell-to-bell ban on cellphones in the classroom, igniting a debate once again on the issue.
—Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 11 Feb. 2026
Their uneasy dynamic fractures when the attorney embarks on a consuming affair with a younger woman, igniting a volatile love triangle that unleashes obsession, betrayal and a ruthless battle for control of the family fortune.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 10 Feb. 2026
New Atlas, 25 Feb. 2026
His father shone a spotlight on lunar exploration for Petro, igniting his desire to help solve the moon’s biggest mysteries.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 21 Feb. 2026
In the southern part of the state, thunderstorms were wreaking havoc this week, with lightning igniting a grove of palm trees in San Pasqual Valley, scorching more than 100 on Tuesday.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
The largest, the Ranger Road Fire, has burned 145,000 acres since igniting in Oklahoma's Beaver County on Tuesday and crossing into Kansas, according to fire officials.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 18 Feb. 2026
After Sweden accused Canada of double-touching stones on Friday, igniting a global controversy, Canadian curler Marc Kennedy leveled allegations against the Swedes of improperly filming his delivery.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 15 Feb. 2026
Brave Pullman porters carried the Chicago Defender with coverage of the funeral on trains headed south from Chicago, sparking outrage and igniting a movement.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 12 Feb. 2026
Lawmakers are considering a statewide bell-to-bell ban on cellphones in the classroom, igniting a debate once again on the issue.
—Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 11 Feb. 2026
Their uneasy dynamic fractures when the attorney embarks on a consuming affair with a younger woman, igniting a volatile love triangle that unleashes obsession, betrayal and a ruthless battle for control of the family fortune.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 10 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for igniting
Verb
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The violence captured on cellphone videos and shared around the globe – buses burning, gas stations attacked, military helicopters flying overhead – wasn’t just happening in remote rural towns long plagued by drug violence.—
Mary Beth Sheridan,
CNN Money,
24 Feb. 2026
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The family has been relying on their wood-burning stove to keep warm.—
Kayla Moeller,
CBS News,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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And, yes, Jung is scorching balls out of the gate.—
Evan Grant,
Dallas Morning News,
22 Feb. 2026
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The Ranger Road megafire is the largest, scorching more than 283,000 acres in Oklahoma and Kansas — an area nearly twice the size of Chicago.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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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
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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
Verb
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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
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Is there a more perfect image for the Valentine’s Day hater than Angela Bassett torching her cheating husband’s car and strutting away with the fiercest look ever committed to screen?—
New York Times,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Further inflaming the issue this week was images of Liam Ramos, a 5-year-old boy who was detained by ICE agents along with his father in Minnesota, prompting strong pushback from local officials.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
22 Jan. 2026
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On top of that, Sybil receives a terminal breast cancer diagnosis, further inflaming tensions throughout the house over the holidays.—
Tommy McArdle,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Igniting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/igniting. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
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