as in to burn
to set (something) on fire
tried using newspapers as kindling to ignite the logs in the fireplace
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Recent Examples of ignite
That was nearly five years after Richard Reid unsuccessfully tried to ignite explosives in his sneakers on an American Airlines flight from Paris to Miami.
—
Jacob Sullum, Oc Register, 19 July 2025
While the cause of the fire couldn’t be conclusively determined, authorities said flames may have been ignited by smoking materials that weren’t properly discarded.
—Muri Assunção, New York Daily News, 18 July 2025
The Dragon Bravo Fire, ignited by lightning, has consumed over 11,000 acres in Grand Canyon National Park.
—Jose R. Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 17 July 2025
But there is a wider discontent among the MAGA base that the president must contend with as well, according to experts, who point out how parts of the populist movement that ignited his initial candidacy in 2016 and catapulted him back to power last year are beginning to feel alienated.
—Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 12 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for ignite
Jacob Sullum, Oc Register, 19 July 2025
While the cause of the fire couldn’t be conclusively determined, authorities said flames may have been ignited by smoking materials that weren’t properly discarded.
—Muri Assunção, New York Daily News, 18 July 2025
The Dragon Bravo Fire, ignited by lightning, has consumed over 11,000 acres in Grand Canyon National Park.
—Jose R. Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 17 July 2025
But there is a wider discontent among the MAGA base that the president must contend with as well, according to experts, who point out how parts of the populist movement that ignited his initial candidacy in 2016 and catapulted him back to power last year are beginning to feel alienated.
—Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 12 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for ignite
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ignite
Verb
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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
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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
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Potassium deficiency causes yellowing and scorching along leaf edges, weak stems, and interveinal chlorosis, a yellowing between the leaf veins.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
22 July 2025
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Take it from someone who easily melts in the scorching heat and humidity — linen clothing is your best option for staying cool all summer.—
Emily Weaver,
People.com,
19 July 2025
Verb
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However, the set up casts light far beyond the highway, extending onto beaches even 12 miles away, including Little St. Simons and Sapelo.—
Julianna Bragg,
CNN Money,
26 July 2025
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Earlier this week, McIntyre lit into Scott with some NSFW criticisms of the rapper, a sign that WWE’s relationship with Scott was on the ropes.—
Blake Oestriecher,
Forbes.com,
26 July 2025
Verb
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The posters inflamed heated passion among those who put them up to raise awareness of the hostages and those who tore them down to show their opposition to Israel’s subsequent Gaza offensive.—
Mike Fleming Jr,
Deadline,
14 July 2025
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Newsom and Bass have condemned Trump’s deployment of military forces for inflaming tensions in the city, but the Administration has argued that the deployment was necessary to assist ICE officials in carrying out operations.—
Chad de Guzman,
Time,
8 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ignite.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ignite. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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