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
Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
Even minor parks or embers might be carried into leaves or grass, kindling a fire that can swiftly expand.
—Kansas City Star Weather Bot, Kansas City Star, 21 Mar. 2026
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
Rather than have their payroll and egos be kindling for clubhouse dysfunction, the Dodgers have found a formula to keep their winning ways going.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
Even minor parks or embers might be carried into leaves or grass, kindling a fire that can swiftly expand.
—Kansas City Star Weather Bot, Kansas City Star, 21 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for kindling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kindling
Noun
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Supply disruptions have also hit hard in Europe and Africa, where countries are responding to rising fuel costs and a considerable threat to food security.—
Sam Meredith,
CNBC,
5 June 2026
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Chemical thrusters burn fuel fast and generate a powerful, rapid thrust that is key for changing orbit in seconds.—
Omar Kardoudi
June 05,
New Atlas,
5 June 2026
Verb
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The thought swings through her, like a burning stick through night air.—
Maggie O’Farrell,
Literary Hub,
2 June 2026
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But as Houston Methodist’s fitness team explains, burning fat during a workout isn’t the same as losing body fat overall.—
Allison Palmer
June 2,
Charlotte Observer,
2 June 2026
Noun
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The breakthrough came from the US Air Force, which had spent years developing a propellant called ASCENT (Advanced SpaceCraft Energetic Non-Toxic propellant) as a greener replacement for hydrazine, a highly toxic chemical traditionally used in spacecraft propulsion.—
Omar Kardoudi
June 05,
New Atlas,
5 June 2026
-
And then there is the intricate tubing that provides gas and liquids to fill not just the rocket’s propellant tanks but also smaller pressurized vessels throughout the vehicle for various purposes.—
Eric Berger,
ArsTechnica,
3 June 2026
Verb
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Trump has effectively imposed a fuel blockade on the island by threatening tariffs on countries supplying it with fuel, igniting seemingly endless power outages and delivering new blows to the island's already ailing economy.—
Phil Stewart,
USA Today,
30 May 2026
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Video of the incident shows the engines apparently igniting, followed by flames shooting up the rocket’s exterior.—
Lee Billings,
Scientific American,
29 May 2026
Noun
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Eco effort The villas are mainly run on solar power (each villa’s roof is slightly sloped to accommodate these solar panels), and the resort is single plastic-free.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 June 2026
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The computing power needs, the competition from Anthropic, the potential for a more business-to-business stream of revenue, the fear that all of the big institutions that own it will want to cash out, makes this one plain fraught.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
31 May 2026
Verb
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Caught unprotected off the port of Saint-Nazaire, the ship was sunk by German planes, the attack lighting a resulting fuel spill.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
2 June 2026
-
Design is modern and clean-lined—muted tones, patterned wallpaper, and enough art and lighting drama to feel fun without tipping into theme.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Noun
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If the superfund template survives, the next decade of American energy policy will be written by trial lawyers, attorneys general and a handful of out-of-state philanthropies bankrolling the litigation pipeline.—
Yaël Ossowski,
Boston Herald,
30 May 2026
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The Maoists’ shrinking realm sits atop rich veins of coal, iron, and bauxite – resources essential to India’s modernization and growing energy demands; Modi’s pledge to bring electricity to every household; and his broader ambition to transform India into a developed nation.—
Dhruv Tikekar,
CNN Money,
30 May 2026
Verb
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As a scorching wind tears across the barren, rocky slopes of Komote Island off the shore of Lake Turkana in northern Kenya, Alfred Lenkutuk sits in the meager shelter of his hut, gazing out over the village where he was born and remembering better times.—
Tommy Trenchard,
NPR,
31 May 2026
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Palo Alto and CrowdStrike have been scorching hot — as mentioned earlier — so expectations are elevated into the release.—
Paulina Likos,Kevin Stankiewicz,
CNBC,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Kindling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kindling. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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