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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of kindling
Graham Averill, Outside, 11 Oct. 2025
The rain fueled the growth of grasses and shrubs, before drought turned it into kindling.
—Simmone Shah, Time, 8 Oct. 2025
Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 10 Nov. 2025
Even minor parks or embers might be carried into leaves or grass, kindling a fire that can swiftly expand.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 27 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for kindling
Noun
Just build a traditional fire with kindling and some paper at the bottom, point the business end of the Looft at the base of your fire, and press the button.
—Graham Averill, Outside, 11 Oct. 2025
The rain fueled the growth of grasses and shrubs, before drought turned it into kindling.
—Simmone Shah, Time, 8 Oct. 2025
Verb
The drought and near-record temperatures dried out the lush scrub, turning it to kindling.
—Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 10 Nov. 2025
Even minor parks or embers might be carried into leaves or grass, kindling a fire that can swiftly expand.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 27 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for kindling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kindling
Noun
-
Most areas received little to no rainfall with the recent system, so fuels are expected to dry out quickly.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Jan. 2026
-
While fuel-efficient and technologically feasible, this type of engine cannot achieve escape velocity from the Solar System, but remains a promising method for interplanetary missions.—
Matthew S Williams,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Jan. 2026
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
Noun
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This thruster uses this power to ionize a propellant (such as xenon), which is then funneled through nozzles to provide consistent thrust.—
Matthew S Williams,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Once at the pad, the mobile launcher will have its electrical, environmental control system ducts and cryogenic propellant feeds hooked up and powered on to make sure the rocket is ready to fly.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
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
Noun
-
The experience also reinforced Madsen’s belief in the power of social media.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Mophie's power bank has the functionality of a wireless MagSafe connection, with the convenience of a stand.—
Michael Cappetta,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Thinking globally and acting locally means electing people of vision, not people who couldn't find their way out of a paper bag without a lobbyist lighting their way under the table, or down the wrong path where for-profit companies rule and teachers are scapegoated for society's failures.—
SHELLEY SMITH SPECIAL TO THE DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE,
Arkansas Online,
10 Jan. 2026
-
More than just lighting a candle, Fischer says upcoming scent trends are leaning toward personalized scents synced with the time of day, activity, or the area of the home.—
Kristina McGuirk,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
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When the weather turns chilly, plants naturally enter a state of dormancy and draw energy down from their leaves and stems into their roots, which helps plants survive the cold without damage.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Rheinmetall’s new technology is key for the energy transition in the field of hydrogen production.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Jan. 2026
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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Kindling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kindling. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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