as in igniters
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 burns
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 torches
Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 17 June 2026
Citronella candles, torches, and sprays are all made with the oil derived from citronella grass—which are different than scented geraniums.
—Cori Sears, The Spruce, 13 June 2026
The conflict that ensues is startling in the intensity of its violence, as bodies brawl and break in the mud, flaming torches are taken to the face, and red-hot blades are seared into flesh.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 11 June 2026
Though not as common as candles or torches, mosquito coils are another effective way to keep bugs at bay.
—Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 9 June 2026
Bill Maher torches embattled Maine candidate over tattoo, texting and abuse claims.
—FOXNews.com, 8 June 2026
On the ground, part of the team used the traditional technique of igniting fires with drip torches or dry palm leaves.
—ABC News, 7 June 2026
In 1971, the Jewish residents of Forest Hills violently protested the development of a public-housing project in their neighborhood with rocks and flaming torches.
—Kevin Lozano, Harpers Magazine, 2 June 2026
Deputies reported finding several butane torches and drug paraphernalia in his possession.
—Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 May 2026
FOXNews.com, 15 Apr. 2026
Hopper cut off a Demogorgon’s head, and Murray torches quite a few.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 12 Nov. 2025
Noun
Or, try lighting citronella torches and candles around your outdoor entertaining space to keep mosquitoes at bay.
—Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 17 June 2026
Citronella candles, torches, and sprays are all made with the oil derived from citronella grass—which are different than scented geraniums.
—Cori Sears, The Spruce, 13 June 2026
The conflict that ensues is startling in the intensity of its violence, as bodies brawl and break in the mud, flaming torches are taken to the face, and red-hot blades are seared into flesh.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 11 June 2026
Though not as common as candles or torches, mosquito coils are another effective way to keep bugs at bay.
—Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 9 June 2026
Bill Maher torches embattled Maine candidate over tattoo, texting and abuse claims.
—FOXNews.com, 8 June 2026
On the ground, part of the team used the traditional technique of igniting fires with drip torches or dry palm leaves.
—ABC News, 7 June 2026
In 1971, the Jewish residents of Forest Hills violently protested the development of a public-housing project in their neighborhood with rocks and flaming torches.
—Kevin Lozano, Harpers Magazine, 2 June 2026
Deputies reported finding several butane torches and drug paraphernalia in his possession.
—Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 May 2026
Verb
Continue reading … BENCH WARRED — Blanche torches Trump foe Boasberg after appeals court blocks judge again in deportation fight.
—FOXNews.com, 15 Apr. 2026
Hopper cut off a Demogorgon’s head, and Murray torches quite a few.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 12 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for torches
Noun
-
Moscow regularly recruits young men of various nationalities — the Starmer arsonists were Ukrainian-born — as proxies in its shadowy hybrid warfare campaigns, Reuters reported.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
15 June 2026
-
Since late March, attackers have randomly stabbed two Jewish men, and arsonists have attacked three synagogues, an educational building, and four charity ambulances in the United Kingdom.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
21 May 2026
Verb
-
Kishnani’s now 48 but the exclusion still burns.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
21 June 2026
-
Destined only to be savoured as a dream, while the world still burns around you.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 June 2026
Verb
-
By late afternoon, people tend to drift toward a neighbor’s backyard, someone lights the barbecue, and kids sort themselves into games of backyard cricket.—
Alli Forde,
Travel + Leisure,
8 June 2026
-
Turn the pool lights off at night.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
7 June 2026
Verb
-
Uruguay's efforts finally yield fruit as Maximiliano Araújo fires home in the 80th minute from close range on the left after Al-Owais made an initial save of a Uruguayan header but left the ball alive in the box.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
16 June 2026
-
Russia fires more than 600 drones at Ukraine Ukraine’s air force said Russia launched 70 missiles and 611 drones overnight, primarily targeting Kyiv, while also striking the cities of Dnipro and Kharkiv.—
Hanna Arhirova,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
Verb
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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
-
The star of Big Little Lies confessed her new film, Caught Stealing, kindles a powerful yearning for some aspects of the era.—
Ryan Coleman,
EW.com,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
What begins as a race to the Moon becomes a mirror of our current, precarious era, just as a new global space race ignites.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
17 June 2026
-
Without understanding people’s complex emotions and social responsibilities regarding illness and death, emergency responses overlook a crucial part of how a disease outbreak ignites and spreads.—
Katherine Marshall,
STAT,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
Protection from the sun is key for this plant because bright sun scorches its leaves.—
Lauren David,
Southern Living,
4 June 2026
-
The United Kingdom smashed a century-old temperature record for the second time in 24 hours on Tuesday as a spring heat wave scorches parts of Western Europe, triggering government warnings about risks to life.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Torches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/torches. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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