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
Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 26 Mar. 2026
Rather than passing the torch, these older guys are reigniting it.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2026
Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 24 Mar. 2026
Videos posted online showed settlers torching cars and buildings, with at least 10 Palestinians reported injured, according to the Palestine Red Crescent Society.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 23 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for torch
Noun
She is often depicted carrying a bow, or sometimes a torch.
—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 26 Mar. 2026
Rather than passing the torch, these older guys are reigniting it.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2026
Verb
On Monday, the group claimed credit for torching four ambulances at a Jewish community rescue service outside the Machzike Hadath synagogue in London.
—Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 24 Mar. 2026
Videos posted online showed settlers torching cars and buildings, with at least 10 Palestinians reported injured, according to the Palestine Red Crescent Society.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 23 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
-
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
-
The analysis, released Friday by the California Department of Insurance and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, found that meeting wildfire safety standards for roughly 30,000 homes within the Eaton and Pacific Palisades burn areas would significantly cut average annual losses.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Around 2,000 acres at Camp Ripley in north-central Minnesota have burned due to a wildfire that broke out in the area on Sunday, officials with the military training center said.—
Nick Lentz,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
But a staggering series of misfortunes – an arsonist destroyed her rental house; the private equity firm that owned the house still demanded two months’ rent and kept her security deposit; she was diagnosed with ovarian and breast cancer – forced her into tenuous housing situations.—
John Blake,
CNN Money,
22 Mar. 2026
-
The sheriff's office believes that the same arsonist started a fire on Sunday near the town of Vernon.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
On Tuesday evening, City Hall was lit in the Transgender Pride flag colors — light pink, baby blue and white.—
Angela Palermo
April 1,
Idaho Statesman,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The Birdfy misses most often when a bird is too close to the camera, poorly lit, or facing away from the camera.—
Jim Fisher,
PC Magazine,
31 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
-
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
-
Once North Carolina fired Hubert Davis after five seasons, Billy Donovan immediately rose to the top of the list of favorites to become the next head coach of the storied program.—
Matthew Couden,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
-
One of the reasons American troops would be vulnerable on Kharg Island is its close proximity to the Iranian mainland, from which missiles, drones and artillery could be fired.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Most dry grasses, dead leaves, and other tree litter could easily ignite and spread fire quickly.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
29 Mar. 2026
-
After Virginia briefly stopped the run, Miles ignited another spark with a tough layup to extend TCU’s lead to 48-38.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
These seemingly innocuous actions can kindle dry grass, potentially triggering a wildfire.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
28 Mar. 2026
-
These seemingly innocuous actions can kindle dry grass, potentially triggering a wildfire.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Torch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/torch. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
