as in fuel
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as in burning
to set (something) on fire
worried that lightning will kindle the forest in the drought-stricken nature preserve
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of kindling
Manuel Muñoz, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
Now, all that kindling is dry following the long, arid months of summer.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 5 Sep. 2025
Keith Sharon, Nashville Tennessean, 21 Oct. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for kindling
Noun
Beneath me, one by one, logs are added to a nest of kindling in the hearth.
—Manuel Muñoz, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
Now, all that kindling is dry following the long, arid months of summer.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 5 Sep. 2025
Verb
There's a lot of kindling around, and there's a lot of like newspapers that can catch on fire.
—Keith Sharon, Nashville Tennessean, 21 Oct. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for kindling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kindling
Noun
-
Goddard's health services are in place to address injuries specific to the types of hazards NASA scientists and engineers may face, like exposure to radiation or hypergolic fuels.—
Josh Dinner,
Space.com,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Certainly, the cynical have questioned if one organization is cleaning up a mess beget by another in the name of democratizing fashion, including through the proliferation of fossil-fuel materials.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Sourcing Journal,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Sc/sd/11x Fire has been burning on private land.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Cobalt, which can cause a burning sensation when handled, was one of the most common of these and is named for the kobold.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The latest tests from October 18 to 20 included a full-scale propellant rehearsal and a static-fire test, marking the XQ-3's entry into final flight preparation, with the first flight slated for November or December 2025.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Just now, it's being sold in colorful cans and marketed as a food propellant at most retailers that sell tobacco.—
Stephanie Kuzydym,
Louisville Courier Journal,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Hurricane-force winds fanned the flames, igniting grasses and brush left bone‑dry by years of drought.—
Josh Green,
Time,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Since the launch of ChatGPT in 2022, Nvidia's shares have climbed 12-fold as the AI frenzy propelled the S&P 500 to record highs, igniting a debate on whether frothy tech valuations could lead to the next big bubble.—
Niket Nishant,
USA Today,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Satire is brilliant for exposing the folly of humans, especially those in power and those working in bad faith—the hypocrites and the frauds—and can be particularly potent when set in irrational or dystopic times.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Nov. 2025
-
The software, called VenApp, was originally launched by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in 2022 as a hybrid application, integrating a messaging service with a helpline for people to report issues with utility services, such as power outages and water disruptions.—
Stefano Pozzebon,
CNN Money,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
A day after King Charles knighted the soccer legend, 50, at an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle, the former athlete's wife, Victoria Beckham, shared videos of David lighting backyard fireworks.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
6 Nov. 2025
-
The man previously on Florida’s Death Row for beating, stabbing and strangling a La Carreta waitress with a rice cooker — before lighting a blaze to destroy key evidence — should be condemned to die, Miami prosecutors told a jury after detailing the slaying on Wednesday morning.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Traditionally, one of the key justifications for teamwork has been its psychological benefits—the energy that comes from collaboration, the reduced stress of shared responsibility, the excitement of building on each other’s ideas.—
François Candelon,
Fortune,
31 Oct. 2025
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Sustainability was a running theme in many of the night’s biggest speeches, with honorees Brandon Sorbom and Ayana Elizabeth Johnson highlighting innovations in clean energy and the urgent need for climate action.—
Antonio Ferme,
Variety,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Without the trees, Smith said, the street is a beacon for scorching heat.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
3 Nov. 2025
-
In the second quarter, the Blazers shot a scorching 9 of 11 from 3-point range.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
25 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Kindling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kindling. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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