as in fire
the illegal burning of a building or other property; the crime of setting fire to something
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, but investigators suspect arson. The town has suffered a rash of arson attacks.
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Recent Examples of arson
The department’s arson team is looking into the cause of the fire, and the Tarrant County medical examiner’s ffice was called to the scene for their investigation, according to the release.
—
Suryatapa Chakraborty, Dallas Morning News, 7 Feb. 2026
Bondi said that Al-Bakoush was charged with charges of murder, terror and arson, all related to the 2012 attack.
—Rachel Wolf , David Spunt , Jake Gibson , Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 6 Feb. 2026
Very much like in Chinatown, Dahlia’s initial robbery eventually opens up a can of worms that exposes citywide corruption, including a scandal in which arson was used to clear slums for new real estate developments.
—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 4 Feb. 2026
The attack was confirmed by the Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Civic Action, which in a statement said it was dismayed to learn of the arson attack on several buildings at the Ranch during Sunday night.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for arson
Suryatapa Chakraborty, Dallas Morning News, 7 Feb. 2026
Bondi said that Al-Bakoush was charged with charges of murder, terror and arson, all related to the 2012 attack.
—Rachel Wolf , David Spunt , Jake Gibson , Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 6 Feb. 2026
Very much like in Chinatown, Dahlia’s initial robbery eventually opens up a can of worms that exposes citywide corruption, including a scandal in which arson was used to clear slums for new real estate developments.
—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 4 Feb. 2026
The attack was confirmed by the Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Civic Action, which in a statement said it was dismayed to learn of the arson attack on several buildings at the Ranch during Sunday night.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for arson
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arson
Noun
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The crucial employment snapshot is slightly delayed because of the brief government shutdown and will show whether the trajectory improved for the US labor market, which has been stuck in a low-hire and low-fire lull.—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
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Italy’s national fire and rescue service, Vigili del Fuoco, reported that, over the weekend, two people died and one was seriously injured in Alpe Meriggio in Valtellina after being caught in an avalanche that fatally buried at least one of the victims.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Finding human fingerprints on disasters The study, confirming what had been widely suspected, brings the first scientific assessment of global warming’s role in intensifying some of the most serious wildfire emergencies to grip Chile and Argentina in years.—
Isabel Debre,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
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Pratt’s book traces his infamous career as a reality television star and more recent turn — after losing his house a year ago in the Palisades wildfire — as a high-profile critic of state and local government officials.—
Gary Baum,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
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More than 200 firefighters were forced to battle the blaze at a home on Dongan Avenue near Broadway in the bitter cold.—
Naveen Dhaliwal,
CBS News,
10 Feb. 2026
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That building collapsed, but not before the flames spread to a neighboring home, which was also gutted in the blaze.—
Kerry Burke,
New York Daily News,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Arson.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arson. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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