arson

as in fire
the illegal burning of a building or other property; the crime of setting fire to something The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, but investigators suspect arson. The town has suffered a rash of arson attacks.

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 arson On March 14, Daniel Clarke-Pounder was arrested on criminal charges relating to the arson attack, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a press release. Rachel Wolf, Fox News, 20 Mar. 2025 From now on, these attacks, including assassination attempts, arson, and attacks on infrastructure, will likely be blamed on Ukrainian intelligence in an effort to turn European public opinion against Ukraine. Andrei Soldatov, Foreign Affairs, 20 Mar. 2025 The Kansas City Police Department is investigating a possible arson case at a Tesla dealership Monday night. Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 18 Mar. 2025 The 29-year-old man was arrested Thursday on suspicion of second-degree arson, criminal mischief and other crimes March 7 at the dealership in Loveland, Colo., police said in a news release. Compiled By Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 16 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for arson
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arson
Noun
  • The fires were personal for Scott — his fiancée Zooey Deschanel’s childhood home in the Palisades burned.
    Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2025
  • Thursday’s deadly fire comes just months after another popular ski resort in the region caught fire, killing 79 people in January.
    Paulina Dedaj, FOXNews.com, 28 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Due date for individuals and businesses affected by wildfires and straight-line winds in southern California that began on January 7, 2025.
    Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025
  • An unusually large wildfire rampaged through southeast Miami-Dade this week.
    Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 22 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Russian drone attack sparks massive blazes in Odesa The strike came shortly before Czech Republic President Petr Pavel visited Odesa on Friday morning, meeting with the city’s leaders and officials from other southern regions.
    Illia Novikov, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2025
  • Ukraine Russia launched a large-scale drone attack on the southern Ukrainian port city of Odesa overnight that hit civilian infrastructure, injured at least three people and sparked a massive blaze.
    Jade Walker, CNN, 21 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Arson.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arson. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.

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