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.
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Recent Examples of arson
Nearly 500 ballots destroyed before election The Oct. 28 ballot box arsons in both Portland and Vancouver resembled a similar incident on Oct. 8, before ballots were being mailed to Oregon residents.
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Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 14 Nov. 2024
Aliya Fakhri was indicted by a grand jury for four counts of murder in the first degree, four counts of murder in the second degree and one count each of arson in the first degree and arson in the second degree.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2024
Fakhri was arrested on Nov. 26 and indicted the next day by a grand jury on four counts of murder in the first degree, four counts of murder in the second degree and one count each of arson in the first degree and arson in the second degree.
—Kc Baker, People.com, 2 Dec. 2024
Investigators have said the fire may have been accidental, not an act of arson.
—Eleanor Beardsley, NPR, 29 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for arson 
Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 14 Nov. 2024
Aliya Fakhri was indicted by a grand jury for four counts of murder in the first degree, four counts of murder in the second degree and one count each of arson in the first degree and arson in the second degree.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2024
Fakhri was arrested on Nov. 26 and indicted the next day by a grand jury on four counts of murder in the first degree, four counts of murder in the second degree and one count each of arson in the first degree and arson in the second degree.
—Kc Baker, People.com, 2 Dec. 2024
Investigators have said the fire may have been accidental, not an act of arson.
—Eleanor Beardsley, NPR, 29 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for arson
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arson
Noun
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Advertisement As of Sunday night, the fire was 49% contained, officials said.Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 16 Dec. 2024
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The fire was contained to the exterior of the building, and the burning product was found to be cooking oil leaking from a malfunctioning gasket.Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 16 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Davila explained that the past couple of months have seen minimal precipitation, not only in the Phoenix area but also in the Arizona High Country, including Payson, where one of the two active wildfires is burning.Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 21 Dec. 2024
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The wildfire has scorched 1,800 acres near Pepperdine University prompting evacuations along the coast amid high winds with some structures destroyed.Kylie Mohr, WIRED, 21 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Advertisement The following day, firefighters were called to extinguish a blaze near the intersection of Ventura Boulevard and Kester Street.Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 20 Dec. 2024
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In the end, 146 employees—most of them young women—died as a result of the blaze.Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near arson
Cite this Entry
“Arson.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arson. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.
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