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.
Related Words
Relevance
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 wildfires
Wildfire worries With the worsening drought comes worries over wildfires.
—
Doyle Rice, USA Today, 14 Sep. 2025
The plant can also be affected by wildfires.
—U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Sep. 2025
Approximately 85% of wildfires are human-caused, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.
—John Leos, AZCentral.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Some have been particularly alarmed by the presence of beryllium, a carcinogen that isn’t commonly tested for after wildfires.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 11 Sep. 2025
At the same time, strikes, southern European wildfires and conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East — as well as memories of how airlines like Air Berlin and Monarch had collapsed before the pandemic — combined to drive holidaymakers back into the arms of companies offering a one-stop shop.
—Ian King, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2025
Other anti-housing development actions include disallowing duplexes and lot subdivisions after wildfires and fighting a new state law to increase housing density around mass transit hubs, saying the state shouldn’t override local control.
—Richard McGahey, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Smoke from regional wildfires would cause air quality to reach unhealth levels, read one of the alerts for the state.
—Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Sep. 2025
Greengrass and his team of three editors, led by seasoned action hand William Goldenberg, cut back and forth between Kevin’s personal difficulties and reports of rapidly escalating wildfires, the scramble to control them led by Cal Fire battalion chief Ray Martinez (Yul Vázquez).
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 6 Sep. 2025
Doyle Rice, USA Today, 14 Sep. 2025
The plant can also be affected by wildfires.
—U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Sep. 2025
Approximately 85% of wildfires are human-caused, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.
—John Leos, AZCentral.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Some have been particularly alarmed by the presence of beryllium, a carcinogen that isn’t commonly tested for after wildfires.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 11 Sep. 2025
At the same time, strikes, southern European wildfires and conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East — as well as memories of how airlines like Air Berlin and Monarch had collapsed before the pandemic — combined to drive holidaymakers back into the arms of companies offering a one-stop shop.
—Ian King, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2025
Other anti-housing development actions include disallowing duplexes and lot subdivisions after wildfires and fighting a new state law to increase housing density around mass transit hubs, saying the state shouldn’t override local control.
—Richard McGahey, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Smoke from regional wildfires would cause air quality to reach unhealth levels, read one of the alerts for the state.
—Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Sep. 2025
Greengrass and his team of three editors, led by seasoned action hand William Goldenberg, cut back and forth between Kevin’s personal difficulties and reports of rapidly escalating wildfires, the scramble to control them led by Cal Fire battalion chief Ray Martinez (Yul Vázquez).
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 6 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wildfires
Noun
-
California is taking further steps to study the negative health effects firefighters face when battling blazes in increasingly urban environments in an effort to develop better protections for those on the front lines of fires.—
William Melhado,
Sacbee.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Properties belonging to Sher Bahadur Deuba, the leader of the largest party in the Nepali Congress, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak and Maoist Pushpa Kamal Dahal, the leader of the Communist Party of Nepal, were also targeted in the blazes.—
Greg Norman,
FOXNews.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Campfire Song At Rusty’s Lakeside Pub in Scottsville, Kentucky, with the cooler weather, everyone is ready for football, jeans, and bonfires.—
Aly Walansky,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
-
At the time that Lauryn and Owen began dating, both parents approved of the other's child and enjoyed traveling to sports matches together and bonding afterward over bonfires.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wildfires.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wildfires. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share