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
Isabel Debre, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
The lint will light quickly and get your kindling off to a good start.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 3 Feb. 2026
Southern California Weather Report, Oc Register, 20 Dec. 2025
In some instances, the amygdala is doing the opposite of kindling fear—instead, trying to quell fear, and in doing so, inhibits breathing.
—Julia Daye, Popular Science, 3 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for kindling
Noun
The invasive species have replaced native, more fire-resistant ecosystems in the region, turning shrub, brush and grass into kindling.
—Isabel Debre, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
The lint will light quickly and get your kindling off to a good start.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 3 Feb. 2026
Verb
Refrain from kindling fires with debris or any other materials during an air quality alert.
—Southern California Weather Report, Oc Register, 20 Dec. 2025
In some instances, the amygdala is doing the opposite of kindling fear—instead, trying to quell fear, and in doing so, inhibits breathing.
—Julia Daye, Popular Science, 3 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for kindling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kindling
Noun
-
In the meantime, the energy crisis continues, threatening summer holidays in Asia and Europe as the loss of jet fuel supplies from the Middle East ripples across those regions.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
7 May 2026
-
Friendly competition is part of the fuel for starter Davis Martin.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
7 May 2026
Verb
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Maps show where the wildfires are burning across Florida and Georgia.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The video shows stunned drivers making a break for it after the firework went off, even though 77 was still partially burning.—
Joe Bruno,
Charlotte Observer,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Ranger will carry 4,000 kg of hydrazine propellant on board to enable rapid maneuvering.—
Eric Berger,
ArsTechnica,
7 May 2026
-
The complex process requires two Starships equipped with docking adapters to meet in orbit to transfer hundreds of tons of super-cooled propellant.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
1 May 2026
Verb
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Marshall may have found the gold, but historians credit another man with igniting the California gold rush.—
Jennifer Wilson,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
Officials say proper landscaping, combined with defensible space and home hardening, can reduce the likelihood of a home igniting during a wildfire.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
Once fierce rivals, the two men were responsible for the country’s first peaceful transfer of power between parties, after Jefferson and his Democratic-Republican Party defeated Adams and the Federalists in the election of 1800.—
Jelani Cobb,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
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Meanwhile, the Marlins are sending catcher Agustin Ramirez to Triple-A after an uneven first five weeks in which his power declined, his defense remained poor and base running errors frustrated the team.—
Barry Jackson,
Sun Sentinel,
4 May 2026
Verb
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The annual Women Who Rock event, which will be held at Lavan Midtown in New York, will also recognize the Class of 2026 — the women who are making big moves and lighting a path for the next generation.—
Katie Abel,
Footwear News,
4 May 2026
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Layer in lighting once the sun goes down Plants do half the work of a patio retreat.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The Sun came into the second half with a burst of energy sparked by back-to-back buckets from Miller.—
Emily Adams,
Hartford Courant,
9 May 2026
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Osvald Søe, 20, Wilson Eisner, 24, and Kieran Sargeant, 22, have all contributed to a developmental foundation that gives Varas’ club energy, athleticism, upside, and, at times, understandable volatility.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 May 2026
Verb
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Wear the machine-washable, wrinkle-resistant ensemble for your next cruise, tropical vacation, or scorching summer spent in the city.—
Mia Huelsbeck,
PEOPLE,
30 Apr. 2026
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Giving them protection from the afternoon sun protects sensitive foliage from scorching.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Kindling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kindling. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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