torch 1 of 2

as in igniter
a person who deliberately and unlawfully sets fire to a building or other property several suspicious fires in the past few months have probably been set by the same torch

Synonyms & Similar Words

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torch

2 of 2

verb

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of torch
Noun
Through the power of food and entrepreneurship, Chef Dook is carrying the torch and continuing the family legacy by creating a sense of home and togetherness, just as his grandmother and great-grandmother, Emily Chase, famously did. Dontaira Terrell, USA Today, 3 Nov. 2025 Kittle presented a makeshift torch to McCaffrey informing of the nomination for his honoring and supporting of the military. Cam Inman, Mercury News, 29 Oct. 2025
Verb
Former All-Pro Dallas corner Trevon Diggs’ play has fallen off a cliff this season, and the Cowboys have gotten torched for a league-leading 10 touchdowns on throws of 20-plus yards. Luca Evans, Denver Post, 24 Oct. 2025 When the Dragon Bravo Fire torched the Grand Canyon’s North Rim in mid-July while the White Sage Fire spread further north, politicians immediately jumped to assign blame. Joan Meiners, AZCentral.com, 20 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for torch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for torch
Noun
  • The ignitor came in the form of fellow defenseman Jake Middleton delivering a bone-crunching hit – legally – to Stars forward Matt Duchene in the neutral zone.
    Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 15 Oct. 2025
  • Turns out the oven has a weak igniter that can be replaced for $300.
    R29 Team, Refinery29, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Sometimes lightning hits the mountainside and splits or burns a tree.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025
  • There's a burning frustration like in the rest of the country.
    ABC News, ABC News, 2 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • There probably was no such an arsonist.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2025
  • An arson fire destroys the 43-year-old Globe Theatre on March 8 (the arsonist was never caught, but a firebug had set several blazes in the park that winter).
    Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Everything is dark around us, but the collision itself is a source of energy and the flash of it lights us up.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 7 Nov. 2025
  • There’s also a replica of the Florida Everglades, The Treewalk Village, a playground and a holiday season visual show, Luminosa, where lanterns light 13 acres amid live music, food and cultural offerings.
    Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • An arson fire destroys the 43-year-old Globe Theatre on March 8 (the arsonist was never caught, but a firebug had set several blazes in the park that winter).
    Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Oct. 2025
  • In video released by police, the firebug could be seen setting fire to a small pile of trash next to the head of a sleeping passenger stretched out on the seat.
    Elizabeth Keogh, New York Daily News, 12 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Iran fired hundreds of ballistic missiles into Israel in response and attacked the Middle East's largest American military base in Qatar.
    MSNBC Newsweek, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
  • The news comes a week after the school fired football head coach Brian Kelly and then former athletic director Scott Woodward a few days later.
    Chris Vannini, New York Times, 5 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • If Mamdani can ignite enthusiasm for civic engagement among Gen Z, that could be a boon for everyone.
    Diane Brady, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2025
  • Historic data In 2024, lightning strikes ignited 305 fires in California, resulting in 90,206 acres of wildland burned, according to NIFC data.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 3 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • These seemingly innocuous actions can kindle dry grass, potentially triggering a wildfire.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 29 Oct. 2025
  • While Martin Scorsese called it one of the scariest movies of all time, The Uninvited kindles a wonderful romance between Rick and Stella.
    Steven Thrash, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Torch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/torch. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.

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