1
: a very flammable substance adaptable for use as kindling
2
: something that serves to incite or inflame
that rhetoric was ready tinder for revolution—
Margaret Peters
Margaret PetersExamples of tinder in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The study published in May described a grass-fire cycle that has caused sparse desert landscapes to turn into sprawling grassland that fills the gaps between native plants and initiating dry tinder made ready by the hot Arizona sun.
—Rey Covarrubias Jr., The Arizona Republic, 25 May 2024
Two wet winters in a row helped grasses grow lush and tall — but those same tall grasses are now drying into tinder under the summer heat, becoming a concern for firefighters around the area.
—Kate Talerico, The Mercury News, 15 June 2024
She’s got a lot of torch songs in her arsenal, and there is nothing like the LA Phil at its most understated to throw just enough tinder onto her unrequitedness to create a beautiful blaze.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 9 Aug. 2024
Trees turned to tinder by weeks of extreme heat are fueling a fast-moving fire in Northern California.
—Sarah Kaplan, Washington Post, 27 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for tinder 
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.
Rey Covarrubias Jr., The Arizona Republic, 25 May 2024
Two wet winters in a row helped grasses grow lush and tall — but those same tall grasses are now drying into tinder under the summer heat, becoming a concern for firefighters around the area.
—Kate Talerico, The Mercury News, 15 June 2024
She’s got a lot of torch songs in her arsenal, and there is nothing like the LA Phil at its most understated to throw just enough tinder onto her unrequitedness to create a beautiful blaze.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 9 Aug. 2024
Trees turned to tinder by weeks of extreme heat are fueling a fast-moving fire in Northern California.
—Sarah Kaplan, Washington Post, 27 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for tinder
Dictionary Entries Near tinder
Cite this Entry
“Tinder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tinder. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tinder
noun
tin·der
ˈtin-dər 
: a material that burns easily and can be used as kindling
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share