conflagration

noun

ˌkän-flə-ˈgrā-shən How to pronounce conflagration (audio)
Definition of conflagrationnext
1
as in inferno
a destructive burning the historic tavern burned to the ground in a horrible conflagration

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in hostilities
a state of armed violent struggle between states, nations, or groups what began as a skirmish over disputed territory erupted into a conflagration that swept the continent

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 conflagration Fourteen people were injured — two critically — in the conflagration and taken to local hospitals. — Julian Roberts-Grmela, New York Daily News, 7 Aug. 2026 Under a blockade by fire, as with a traditional blockade, the damage to Taiwan occurs through increasing supply shortages and rising prices, not conflagrations in Taiwan’s major cities. — Eugene Gholz, Foreign Affairs, 4 Aug. 2026 The conflagration began near Hogan Dam Road and Gann Road, according to the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office. — Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 4 Aug. 2026 If people want to keep conflagrations in check, nature needs people. — M. R. O’Connor, New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for conflagration
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conflagration
  1. inferno
  2. hostilities
  3. fire
  4. war
Noun
  • Gunshots followed by an inferno Police responded to the home on Sunday evening and heard gunshots coming from out back, just before the house was completely engulfed in flames.
    — Matthew Brown, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Hiding underneath a desk in a classroom was an 8-foot python, which fire officials say started the inferno.
    — Minyvonne Burke, NBC news, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of inferno
Noun
  • Brent’s price zigzagged between $72 and $102 last month as hopes rose and fell that the United States and Iran could reach an agreement to end hostilities and the threat to oil tankers in the strait.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The administration, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, argued the war was over with a ceasefire and that hostilities then resumed.
    — Bart Jansen, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of hostilities
Noun
  • The Plaskett fire was 8,241 acres as of Sunday morning — up from about 6,000 acres Saturday morning — and only 1% contained.
    — Deputy Managing Editor, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • This includes campfires, warming fires and charcoal barbecues, the park said, directing visitors to its Fire Information webpage.
    — Eve Chen, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of fire
Noun
  • The Middle East war and the resulting shipping disruption through the Strait of Hormuz drove up global commodity costs, further squeezing Beijing's own appetite for commodity imports.
    — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Iran says wedding struck Iranians were fearful that the new strikes signaled war could restart at full throttle.
    — Kanishka Singh, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of war

Browse Nearby Words

conflagrant
conflagration
conflagrations
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Cite this Entry

“Conflagration.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conflagration. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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