IGNITE Synonyms: 50 Similar and Opposite Words

ignite

verb

ig-ˈnīt

Definition of ignite

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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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 ignite The woman’s lawsuit, filed last month, ignited national outrage over how Cornell and the local district attorney’s office handled her accusations. — Claire Healy, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2026 The collision on the narrow two-lane highway ignited a fire that engulfed the 17-passenger mid-sized commercial shuttle bus, which had a 50-year-old driver and five passengers onboard, according to the National Transportation Safety Board. — Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026 Aerohart From there, the bulk of Aerohart's update work focuses on making the Aviator's Ember easier to hold and thereby more user-friendly for igniting tinder. — New Atlas, 8 Oct. 2026 The ongoing war also ignited a feud between New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. — Christina Fan, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ignite

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ignite

Verb

The house took eight years to build on the property where the couple’s previous home burned during the 2018 Woolsey fire, along with Albuquerque’s studio, archive and many of her paintings.

— Jane Horowitz, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
The wall's stonework showed signs of fire damage, while archaeologists also uncovered burned seeds and the remains of a charred wooden building nearby.

— Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of burn

Verb

The Norte fire — the most devastating blaze — scorched more than 570 acres in residential neighborhoods in San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano, damaging or destroying at least six homes.

— Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
That was the update last week at a meeting of the Venus Exploration Analysis Group (VEXAG), a confab of scientists whose research interests focus on the scorching world just sunward from Earth.

— Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of scorch

Verb

If Mick hadn’t come cruising into that playground, lights off?

— George Saunders, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026
Rather than lighting an entire room, try task lighting like reading lamps, under-the-cabinet light strips, and desk lamps that illuminate a workspace.

— Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of light

Verb

The news has inflamed debate over the British government’s unprecedented decision to use terrorism powers to ban a group primarily known for property damage and disruption.

— Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 15 Oct. 2026
After two months of migraines, Dominik said, the pain eased, but his face felt inflamed.

— Amy Maxmen, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of inflame

Verb

While many of the more contentious and controversial aspects of his life are presented in one-sided fashion, friend and former manager Rory Holloway’s still-raw sense of betrayal at Tyson firing his entire team is evoked with vivid irritation.

— Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 13 Oct. 2026
Gillis was fired from SNL in 2019 for racist and homophobic comments, but has been invited back to host three times since.

— Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of fire

Browse Nearby Words

ignitable

ignite

ignited

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Style

“Ignite.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ignite. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of ignite

verb

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