wildfire

Definition of wildfirenext
as in blaze
a fire in a wild area (such as a forest) that is not controlled and that can burn a large area very quickly The recent wildfires were made worse by the strong winds.

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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 wildfire The order echoes the administration’s January 2025 action, which blamed California’s environmental and water‑management policies for intensifying wildfires and authorized federal agencies to override state water restrictions and accelerate environmental waivers. James Ward, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026 At a few points last year, Denver's skyline was completely blanketed with smoke, whether from wildfires in the state or nearby areas, as well as other sources. January 27, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026 Plus, the same lack of precipitation also creates challenges for Southern California real estate, including droughts and wildfires. Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 27 Jan. 2026 The divorce was settled on Jan. 6, 2025, two days before TMZ reported that Affleck had fled to Garner’s home amid the devastating L.A. wildfires. Jami Ganz, Mercury News, 9 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for wildfire
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wildfire
Noun
  • Shortly after, firefighters extinguished what was left of the blaze.
    Briauna Brown, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
  • The cause of the blaze is being investigated by the Parker County fire marshal’s office.
    Elissa Jorgensen, Dallas Morning News, 3 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • In a disturbing incident in the northern city of Rasht, regime forces shot unarmed civilians trying to escape an inferno engulfing its bazaar.
    Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
  • Jonathan Rinderknecht has been charged with setting the fire that grew into the massive inferno.
    Michelle Edgar, Daily News, 24 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Tengden said the aircraft is designed for reconnaissance, precision strikes, communications relay, emergency rescue, and forest fire prevention.
    Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 5 Dec. 2025
  • The forest fire sequence is a good example.
    Clayton Davis, Variety, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The men claimed a pair of metal folding chairs set beside the campfire; Adi found a seat on a big knob of driftwood.
    Jonathan Miles, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
  • Creepy campfire tales of a ghostly demon who causes still-births for unsuspecting mothers the world over doesn’t help her own peace of mind.
    Pete Hammond, Deadline, 25 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Amenities include two restaurants, an indoor pool, a sauna, a hot tub, bike rentals, a bonfire pit, a sandy beach, and an activity room with crafts.
    Robert Annis, Midwest Living, 19 Jan. 2026
  • In the late 1800s, the Mountain House Hotel owners created a manmade version of Firefall by pushing a bonfire off Glacier Point’s edge in a ploy to attract tourism.
    Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 18 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Wildfire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wildfire. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.

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