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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ignite
Michael Jackson ignited the cultural phenomenon with his 1993 performance.
—
Matthew Odam, Austin American Statesman, 5 Feb. 2026
Oceanside police believe the teen had ignited multiple Black Cat fireworks at once, instead of one at a time, when the injuries occurred, a police spokesperson said.
—Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
The collision ignited a fire that engulfed the bus, killing its 50-year-old driver and five of the six passengers aboard.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 5 Feb. 2026
This can generate enough heat that the cardboard can start to smolder, or even ignite.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ignite
Matthew Odam, Austin American Statesman, 5 Feb. 2026
Oceanside police believe the teen had ignited multiple Black Cat fireworks at once, instead of one at a time, when the injuries occurred, a police spokesperson said.
—Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
The collision ignited a fire that engulfed the bus, killing its 50-year-old driver and five of the six passengers aboard.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 5 Feb. 2026
This can generate enough heat that the cardboard can start to smolder, or even ignite.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ignite
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ignite
Verb
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If humans opt to burn more fossil fuels and increase climate pollution, that number drops to just four.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
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The reasons in this case, Dunn said, include the emissions released by the new compressors — which would be powered by burning gas from the pipeline — as well the noise and vibrations produced by the facility.—
John Moritz,
Hartford Courant,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Simpler cooking, community…and Nico Ruspoli, an olive oil producer with his own scorched past.—
Danielle Parker,
CBS News,
7 Feb. 2026
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The hard X-ray peak came first, intense and quickly, followed by a longer, scorching soft X-ray and optical glow.—
Paul Sutter,
Space.com,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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November 22 – December 21 Sagittarius, your spark lights the path ahead.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
10 Feb. 2026
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Ella Morgan lit the lamp twice and assisted on the other goal for King Philip, leading a 3-1 nonleague win over Martha’s Vineyard.—
Brendan Connelly,
Boston Herald,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Such an experience would be memorable and inflame an intense desire.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Feb. 2026
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Maegan Ortiz, executive director of the Institute of Popular Education of Southern California, or IDEPSCA, cited the LAPD’s history of using excessive force against civilians and said that in the recent immigration raids, officers have sometimes inflamed instead of defused tensions.—
Melissa Gomez,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Payne intentionally fired four rounds at 25-year-old Kierra Lane, killing her at her Covington home with the pair's children present, prosecutors said at trial.—
Quinlan Bentley,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
10 Feb. 2026
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Payton’s longtime assistant, Lombardi was fired a few days after the Broncos’ AFC Championship Game loss.—
Jeff Zrebiec,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ignite.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ignite. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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