as in blazes
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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Recent Examples of wildfires
Throughout his career, Zilber helped plant millions of trees and was a part of the state's response efforts for severe weather events, including wildfires, floods and tornadoes.
—
Maia Pandey, jsonline.com, 4 Oct. 2025
The number of people using the FAIR plan for fire insurance has increased dramatically in recent years as companies have pulled back business in the state due to losses caused by major wildfires arising from risks due to climate change and other factors.
—Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2025
When wildfires hit northern California in August 2020, the duo began visiting base camps where the firefighters stage their equipment before heading out to the front lines.
—Kathleen Toner, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2025
The Inter Milan footballing midfield maestro, and his wife Sinem, have teamed up to announce the creation of the Çalhanoğlu Forest, an initiative that will see 10,000 saplings (young trees) planted in the Aydın Province of Kuşadası, which was devastated by wildfires in June 2024.
—William Jones, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
Electricity jumping into the air in the form of a spark or arc at points of contact can melt metal parts of the electrical infrastructure that can fall to the ground and ignite wildfires.
—Chiara Eisner, NPR, 2 Oct. 2025
The heavy smoke that came from wildfires in Canada in 2023, along with the pandemic, underscored the district’s lack of preparedness for natural disasters, says executive director Theodore Moore.
—Simmone Shah, Time, 2 Oct. 2025
But when wildfires spread quickly, nesting condors and chicks incapable of flight are left vulnerable.
—John Leos, AZCentral.com, 1 Oct. 2025
Local architect Stephen Phillips has met dozens of homeowners following the wildfires, but says finances are holding back many from hiring him.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 26 Sep. 2025
Maia Pandey, jsonline.com, 4 Oct. 2025
The number of people using the FAIR plan for fire insurance has increased dramatically in recent years as companies have pulled back business in the state due to losses caused by major wildfires arising from risks due to climate change and other factors.
—Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2025
When wildfires hit northern California in August 2020, the duo began visiting base camps where the firefighters stage their equipment before heading out to the front lines.
—Kathleen Toner, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2025
The Inter Milan footballing midfield maestro, and his wife Sinem, have teamed up to announce the creation of the Çalhanoğlu Forest, an initiative that will see 10,000 saplings (young trees) planted in the Aydın Province of Kuşadası, which was devastated by wildfires in June 2024.
—William Jones, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
Electricity jumping into the air in the form of a spark or arc at points of contact can melt metal parts of the electrical infrastructure that can fall to the ground and ignite wildfires.
—Chiara Eisner, NPR, 2 Oct. 2025
The heavy smoke that came from wildfires in Canada in 2023, along with the pandemic, underscored the district’s lack of preparedness for natural disasters, says executive director Theodore Moore.
—Simmone Shah, Time, 2 Oct. 2025
But when wildfires spread quickly, nesting condors and chicks incapable of flight are left vulnerable.
—John Leos, AZCentral.com, 1 Oct. 2025
Local architect Stephen Phillips has met dozens of homeowners following the wildfires, but says finances are holding back many from hiring him.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 26 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wildfires
Noun
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There, Carman learned that firefighters from across the state were deployed to battle the blazes, working 24-hour shifts for two weeks at a time.—
Kathleen Toner,
CNN Money,
3 Oct. 2025
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The report added that emergency response personnel and resources were further challenged by other blazes that erupted in the region around the same time as the Palisades and Eaton fires.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
25 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Aromas like pumpkin chai or caramel pecan take us to a cozy kitchen filled with baked goods and warm mugs, while woodsy notes like cedar, amber, or smoke pull us into forests or bonfires.—
Raquel Reichard,
Refinery29,
1 Oct. 2025
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State Beach has ample parking, public facilities, beachside eateries, picnic areas, walking and biking paths and more than 200 free fire pits for beachside bonfires.—
Greg Mellen,
Oc Register,
19 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wildfires.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wildfires. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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