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
Marcus Anthony Hunter, Time, 19 June 2026
Or, try lighting citronella torches and candles around your outdoor entertaining space to keep mosquitoes at bay.
—Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 17 June 2026
Brianna Sacks, Washington Post, 11 June 2026
The tree trunk the cross was leaning against was torched, along with some leaves.
—Jermont Terry, CBS News, 10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for torch
Noun
And when our leaders pass the torch in calling for our country to study, assess, and address the need for restitution, that is a win.
—Marcus Anthony Hunter, Time, 19 June 2026
Or, try lighting citronella torches and candles around your outdoor entertaining space to keep mosquitoes at bay.
—Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 17 June 2026
Verb
Setting intentional forest fires and letting other low-severity ones burn can significantly lower the chances of extreme blazes torching those same areas in the future, according to a new study released Thursday, while reducing toxic smoke over time.
—Brianna Sacks, Washington Post, 11 June 2026
The tree trunk the cross was leaning against was torched, along with some leaves.
—Jermont Terry, CBS News, 10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for torch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for torch
Noun
-
The dual arc igniter can quickly light cigarettes, candles, campfires or small materials without needing fuel, and performs even under windy or humid situations with no extra tools required.—
Shirl Leigh
April 23,
New Atlas,
23 Apr. 2026
-
An electric igniter is hidden on the top of the phone behind a small trap door.—
Angela Moscaritolo,
PC Magazine,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Most of the smoke is coming from the Iron Fire in Utah, which has burned more than 21,000 acres.—
Joe Ruch,
CBS News,
23 June 2026
-
The world has known that adding heat-trapping gases to the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels and cutting down forests will warm the globe, said Jennifer Francis, a climate scientist at the Woodwell Climate Research Center on Cape Cod, who was not involved in the research.—
Alexa St. John,
Fortune,
22 June 2026
Noun
-
Wednesday's blaze is one of three notable warehouse fires to occur in California in about month's time after the Kimberly Clark paper goods warehouse in Ontario was allegedly set on fire by an arsonist in April, and the Medline Industries warehouse in Tracy was destroyed last week.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
-
Because Rinderknecht isn't charged with being a strange guy, he's charged with an arsonist.—
Adam Sabes,
FOXNews.com,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
No video evidence exists to show exactly how the Lachman fire started, much less that Rinderknecht was the one who lit the blaze.—
Brittny Mejia,
Los Angeles Times,
24 June 2026
-
Opt for sconces and hanging lights, rather than lamps or lighting pieces that take up floorspace.—
Vaishnavi Nayel Talawadekar,
Architectural Digest,
23 June 2026
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
-
The suspect allegedly fired several shots at Majied.—
JT Moodee Lockman,
CBS News,
23 June 2026
-
The Israeli military says 36 Israeli soldiers and four civilians were killed, as Hezbollah fired thousands of rockets and drones into northern Israel and Israeli troops in southern Lebanon.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
23 June 2026
Verb
-
The breakout success of these films has ignited debate across Hollywood about what made these movies so popular, especially among Gen Z moviegoers who haven’t been flocking to cinemas in recent years.—
Cerys Davies,
Los Angeles Times,
20 June 2026
-
Moore said the nature of the materials inside has made the fire difficult to control, as the foam insulation continues to burn slowly once ignited.—
Iris Salem,
CBS News,
20 June 2026
Verb
-
These seemingly innocuous actions can kindle dry grass, potentially triggering a wildfire.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
19 June 2026
-
The faith of these settlers kindled a fervent Protestant piety, found in the Great Revival of the Ohio Valley frontier.—
Matthew Smith,
The Conversation,
8 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Torch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/torch. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
