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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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
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Recent Examples of torch
Joe Osborne, PC Magazine, 4 Mar. 2026
Once opened and pulled out of the package, the flame from the novelty torch lighter is the least of its troubles.
—Jermont Terry, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 4 Mar. 2026
Thomas was able to flee and the Maserati that was seen driving was later found torched, but authorities were still able to take fingerprints and DNA from the vehicle that matched Thomas, Pekara said.
—William Lee, Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for torch
Noun
The MacBook Neo looks to be picking up its torch and running with it.
—Joe Osborne, PC Magazine, 4 Mar. 2026
Once opened and pulled out of the package, the flame from the novelty torch lighter is the least of its troubles.
—Jermont Terry, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
Verb
Investigations revealed that the embers from the fire were possibly rekindled by powerful Santa Ana winds less than a week later, leading to the Palisades Fire, which destroyed thousands of homes and buildings, killed a dozen people and torched more than 23,000 acres of land.
—Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 4 Mar. 2026
Thomas was able to flee and the Maserati that was seen driving was later found torched, but authorities were still able to take fingerprints and DNA from the vehicle that matched Thomas, Pekara said.
—William Lee, Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for torch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for torch
Noun
-
An electric igniter is hidden on the top of the phone behind a small trap door.—
Angela Moscaritolo,
PC Magazine,
7 Mar. 2026
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After eight days of examining the scene, analysts found that the light source matched the sparks from a flint ignitor and the flame from a butane lighter.—
Harrington Gardiner,
CBS News,
17 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Many works of Georges Méliès are even believed to have been burned as the original negatives, as the nitrate film stock is incredibly fragile and inflammable.—
Munis Raza,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Mar. 2026
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Vlad returns to find the protagonist and John trapped in the burning cabin and pulls them out.—
Meg Walters,
Glamour,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The state of Maryland is burning at the hands of political arsonists, and the Maryland Freedom Caucus continues to criticize the color of the few fire trucks Maryland Republicans are deploying to contain the disaster.—
Torrey Snow,
Baltimore Sun,
25 Feb. 2026
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But the fires leave Fitchburg resident Brenda Martinez fearful of a potential arsonist on the loose.—
Samantha Chaney,
CBS News,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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By night, the scene softens with storm lanterns lit by hotel staff, who also patrol the premises.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Mar. 2026
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As Byron’s wife, Franny, Rossellini is a frosty woman who would rather light priceless paintings on fire than sit through a dinner with her husband.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
10 Mar. 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
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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
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Hezbollah fired missiles deep into Israel, setting off air raid sirens in central Israel and its commercial hub Tel Aviv, as interception blasts sounded as far as Jerusalem.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
10 Mar. 2026
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Through geolocating and verifying seven images, Human Rights Watch said Israel fired white phosphorus using artillery at residential areas in the southern Lebanese village of Yohmor.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The white phosphorus then ignites and burns intensely, destroying the agents by incinerating them – a method meant to reduce the risk of spreading the materials and to limit potential harm to civilians and the surrounding environment.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Mar. 2026
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Louisville guard Ryan Conwell sank a three to start the game, Udeh responded with a dunk on the other end, igniting the Watsco Center crowd, but then the Cardinals went on a 10-0 run to take a 13-2 lead.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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These seemingly innocuous actions can kindle dry grass, potentially triggering a wildfire.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
27 Feb. 2026
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Birthday celebrations in subsequent years seem hardly to have been calculated to kindle a sense of humility.—
Rebecca Mead,
New Yorker,
21 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Torch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/torch. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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