as in to burn
to be on fire especially brightly
anthracite, which is naturally hard, combusts more cleanly than bituminous coal
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of combust
The element of surprise has mostly worn off, even if Grace tells Faith that one never really gets used to people spontaneously combusting right in front of you.
—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Mar. 2026
During winter, wet road salt can seep into manholes, corroding electrical cables’ insulation, causing sparks and gas that can then combust under pressure.
—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
26 Feb. 2026
Make sure there are no overhanging limbs that could combust, cut back and remove nearby grasses, brambles, and underbrush, and have a fire extinguisher ready to deal with any embers that float away.
—
Steven John,
Architectural Digest,
13 Feb. 2026
When a mosquito comes and bites him, the bug immediately tastes the spice in his blood and flies away only to combust moments later.
—
Jason Pham,
StyleCaster,
8 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for combust
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Mar. 2026
During winter, wet road salt can seep into manholes, corroding electrical cables’ insulation, causing sparks and gas that can then combust under pressure.
—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
26 Feb. 2026
Make sure there are no overhanging limbs that could combust, cut back and remove nearby grasses, brambles, and underbrush, and have a fire extinguisher ready to deal with any embers that float away.
—
Steven John,
Architectural Digest,
13 Feb. 2026
When a mosquito comes and bites him, the bug immediately tastes the spice in his blood and flies away only to combust moments later.
—
Jason Pham,
StyleCaster,
8 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for combust
Recent Examples of Synonyms for combust
Verb
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According to Smith, citizens of East Florida even burned the leaders behind the Declaration of Independence in effigy.
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For decades, oceans have acted as the planet’s main heat sink, absorbing 90% of the excess heat produced by humans burning fossil fuels.
Verb
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The glowing ribbon of the Milky Way tumbles directly through this cosmic triangle before arcing towards the southern horizon, though its diffuse light will be hidden behind a veil of moonlight on the night of the full moon.
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Nobody writes a glowing reference for the person who stole their idea.
Verb
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True insanity seldom results from a huge, flaming blowout when driving.
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Footage on social media captured victims falling through flaming windows as first responders attempted to reach them.
Cite this Entry
“Combust.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/combust. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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