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
Relevance
as in to burn
to set (something) on fire
police suspect that the owner torched the house for the insurance money
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Daphne Woolsoncroft, People.com, 8 July 2025
At the same time, great swaths of forested land around the world were being cleared and put to the torch to make room for agriculture.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 3 July 2025
Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 7 July 2025
This Mercury squad has been torching teams from the outside, thanks to Alyssa Thomas' MVP-caliber playmaking.
—Devin Robertson, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for torch
Noun
Mother Mary left behind a torch, which Mary Shelley boldly carried.
—Daphne Woolsoncroft, People.com, 8 July 2025
At the same time, great swaths of forested land around the world were being cleared and put to the torch to make room for agriculture.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 3 July 2025
Verb
Bradshaw torched the Steelers in May before the team signed Rodgers.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 7 July 2025
This Mercury squad has been torching teams from the outside, thanks to Alyssa Thomas' MVP-caliber playmaking.
—Devin Robertson, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for torch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for torch
Verb
-
The pair, who met as college undergrads, both burned with idealism and recognized their privilege could be leveraged for a game-changing idea.—
Carole Horst,
Variety,
13 Sep. 2023
-
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation promotes circular fashion and says that, in the United States, an amount of clothing equal to a garbage truck is ferried to landfills or burned every second.—
Neeti Mehra,
Treehugger,
13 Sep. 2023
Verb
-
At blue hour, Abe captured the foreground—the internal walls and water—gently lit by the setting sun.—
Carlyn Kranking,
Smithsonian Magazine,
14 July 2025
-
Cromlix has recently introduced a whole bath time ritual which includes having your bath drawn for you, laden with heavenly essential oils, a relaxing playlist pumped into the expansive bathrooms and LED candles softly lighting the room.—
Felicity Carter,
Forbes.com,
13 July 2025
Noun
-
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
-
Two men have been charged with felony arson in Los Angeles in unrelated cases as authorities combat firebugs, looters and multiple raging blazes in Southern California.—
Michael Ruiz,
Fox News,
15 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
During the tussle, the suspect was able to ignite the fuel, setting fire to one of the probation officers, the department wrote in a post on Facebook.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
12 July 2025
-
But there is a wider discontent among the MAGA base that the president must contend with as well, according to experts, who point out how parts of the populist movement that ignited his initial candidacy in 2016 and catapulted him back to power last year are beginning to feel alienated.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
12 July 2025
Verb
-
During the confrontation, Chavis fired two shots, police said.—
Julia Marnin
July 14,
Miami Herald,
14 July 2025
-
While unconfirmed, sources say the film revolves around the period at the artificial intelligence company OpenAI in 2023 that saw CEO Sam Altman fired and rehired in a matter of days.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
14 July 2025
Verb
-
If a flawed family-friendly movie can kindle the audience’s curiosity in pre-Columbian civilizations, that’s a net positive.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Variety,
5 July 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,
1 July 2025
Verb
-
Potassium deficiency causes yellowing and scorching along leaf edges, weak stems, and interveinal chlorosis, a yellowing between the leaf veins.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
22 July 2025
-
Take it from someone who easily melts in the scorching heat and humidity — linen clothing is your best option for staying cool all summer.—
Emily Weaver,
People.com,
19 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Torch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/torch. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share