as in fuel
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as in burning
to set (something) on fire
worried that lightning will kindle the forest in the drought-stricken nature preserve
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Recent Examples of kindling
Jeff Goodell, Rolling Stone, 13 Feb. 2025
Then Sam throws the rest of his kindling onto his fire in a last-ditch attempt just as, as Jeffrey says, the wind blows Teeny’s fire away from her rope and blows Sam’s fire upward toward his rope.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 18 Dec. 2024
In the dry seasons, the brush withered into kindling waiting to ignite.
—Elizabeth Kolbert, The New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2025
The red flag warnings that have blanketed most of Southern California, and helped turn parts of it into kindling, have left the desert alone so far for the most part.
—Jim Alexander, Orange County Register, 16 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for kindling
Noun
By that time, the mountains around L.A. were like a giant pile of kindling.
—Jeff Goodell, Rolling Stone, 13 Feb. 2025
Then Sam throws the rest of his kindling onto his fire in a last-ditch attempt just as, as Jeffrey says, the wind blows Teeny’s fire away from her rope and blows Sam’s fire upward toward his rope.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 18 Dec. 2024
In the dry seasons, the brush withered into kindling waiting to ignite.
—Elizabeth Kolbert, The New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2025
The red flag warnings that have blanketed most of Southern California, and helped turn parts of it into kindling, have left the desert alone so far for the most part.
—Jim Alexander, Orange County Register, 16 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for kindling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kindling
Noun
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The major driver for the decline in coal use is the economic competition with cheaper and cleaner fuels, such as natural gas and renewables, Ryna Cui, research director for the Center for Global Sustainability at the University of Maryland, told ABC News.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
10 Apr. 2025
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All of this stems from a toxic and mostly invisible danger, largely the product of burning things for fuel and letting the remnant drift into the air and then into us—which is what happens unless the government regulates that process.—
Zoë Schlanger,
The Atlantic,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The company built a retail and residential complex around the county’s Coconut Grove Metrorail station, and Martin also is pitching an incinerator site in western Miami-Dade as an alternative to the Levine Cava plan to rebuild the trash-burning facility in Doral.—
Douglas Hanks,
Miami Herald,
4 Jan. 2025
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As some steelmakers are beginning to embrace cleaner technology, climate and clean air advocates say Nippon's plan would have slowed the transition to greener steel by extending the life of dirty, old coal-burning furnaces.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
3 Jan. 2025
Verb
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With Mercury stationing direct in Pisces — igniting your expressive fifth house of love, creativity and passion — everything from your hobbies to your romantic longings is getting back on track.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
7 Apr. 2025
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The Table Rock Fire has burned more than 13,000 acres total in South Carolina and North Carolina since igniting on March 21, the South Carolina Forestry Commission said Tuesday.—
Meredith Deliso,
ABC News,
1 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The critical task of producing propellant on Mars for a return trip to Earth would also require huge amounts of electricity, roughly 25 to 30 kilowatts, likely requiring nuclear power plants, Hoffman said.—
Joshua Rhett Miller,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Apr. 2025
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Starship upgrades In a statement, SpaceX said the Flight 7 explosion was probably caused by a leak in the aft — or rear — section of the vehicle, near a tank that holds super-chilled liquid oxygen, or LOX, a type of rocket propellant.—
Jackie Wattles,
CNN,
28 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Moscow regaining its status as Europe's top energy supplier would hurt American oil and gas producers, especially as the U.S. has made inroads as an LNG supplier there.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Apr. 2025
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During ketosis, the body burns fat for energy instead of sugar.—
Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, RDN,
Health,
24 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Stray animals are also at risk of suffering from heat exhaustion during scorching summers.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
Newsweek,
2 Jan. 2025
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Heat over medium heat, stirring frequently to avoid scorching the milk.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
28 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Hugo saw that something as simple as shoes could be solved with the right approach and insights, cementing his belief in the power of technology to solve real-world problems.—
Jason Phillips,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2025
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Earlier this month, it was revealed that Massive Entertainment's ambitious action-adventure game would be coming to Nintendo Switch 2 in 2025, which speaks well about the raw graphical power of Nintendo's new hybrid console.—
Fran Ruiz,
Space.com,
24 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Kindling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kindling. Accessed 28 Apr. 2025.
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