as in to burn
to be on fire especially brightly
anthracite, which is naturally hard, combusts more cleanly than bituminous coal
Synonyms & Similar 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 combust
The dog, which Giancarlo said combusted as if something flammable had been applied to it, ran over to the couch, where the tenant tried to grab it, the report said.
—
Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 20 May 2025
The removal part is that CO2 absorbed by the trees is never re-emitted at the plant when biomass waste is combusted.
—Ben Geman, Axios, 11 Apr. 2025
Electric ground source heat pumps extracting heat from geothermal wells in winter deliver at least three times as much heat as the equivalent of electric power input, and will be less expensive than combusting natural gas.
—David Englert, Hartford Courant, 3 Mar. 2025
Better battery management systems and less flammable, metal enclosures could help prevent fires without retardants
Researchers say the best solution to this growing problem might be to focus on making efforts to prevent batteries from combusting in the first place.
—Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 30 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for combust
Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 20 May 2025
The removal part is that CO2 absorbed by the trees is never re-emitted at the plant when biomass waste is combusted.
—Ben Geman, Axios, 11 Apr. 2025
Electric ground source heat pumps extracting heat from geothermal wells in winter deliver at least three times as much heat as the equivalent of electric power input, and will be less expensive than combusting natural gas.
—David Englert, Hartford Courant, 3 Mar. 2025
Better battery management systems and less flammable, metal enclosures could help prevent fires without retardants
Researchers say the best solution to this growing problem might be to focus on making efforts to prevent batteries from combusting in the first place.
—Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 30 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for combust
Recent Examples of Synonyms for combust
Verb
-
The pair, who met as college undergrads, both burned with idealism and recognized their privilege could be leveraged for a game-changing idea.—
Carole Horst,
Variety,
13 Sep. 2023
-
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation promotes circular fashion and says that, in the United States, an amount of clothing equal to a garbage truck is ferried to landfills or burned every second.—
Neeti Mehra,
Treehugger,
13 Sep. 2023
Verb
-
Its historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, glows with buildings carved from Villamayor sandstone that shimmer like honey under the basking Castilian rays.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
21 July 2025
-
Its tools have been quirky designs and glowing lights, along with a focus on markets outside the US.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
18 July 2025
Verb
-
Chicago Cubs almost certainly remember Anthony Rizzo's flaming hot streak in the leadoff spot in the order.—
Andrew Wright,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 July 2025
-
Take the flaming Baller Colada (served in a pineapple) from a menu that unfolds like an amusement park map.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
11 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Combust.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/combust. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share