as in burning
being on fire
kindled straw was responsible for the blaze that destroyed the barn
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in burned
to set (something) on fire
worried that lightning will kindle the forest in the drought-stricken nature preserve
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of kindled
Jon Wertheim, CBS News, 5 Apr. 2026
This spectacular success kindled a desire in Hersheypark officials to invest heavily in thrill rides.
—John Haddad, The Conversation, 3 Apr. 2026
Traders and investors are laser-focused on the inflation being kindled by higher oil prices.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 25 Mar. 2026
If ‘Oxen’ occupies a region of Ulysses where Joyce’s exquisite ear for memorably musical sentences (‘Mild fire of wine kindled his veins’) takes a back seat to the leaden hum of meta-literature, that is no reason not to be awed by his chutzpah.
—Literary Hub, 5 Feb. 2026
Watson had kindled a social media friendship with the NBA star and received an invite to one of his exclusive pickup runs.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 14 Jan. 2026
This is only slightly challenged by a flame kindled between Mindy and Alfie (Lucien Laviscount) earlier on in the show.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 5 Jan. 2026
The ballroom aces met on Broadway, kindled a romance on the reality dancing competition, and married in 2017.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Dec. 2025
Verb
America's hopes for its first high-speed rail were kindled in 2008, when California voters approved a ballot measure for a train connecting Los Angeles to San Francisco in less than three hours.
—Jon Wertheim, CBS News, 5 Apr. 2026
This spectacular success kindled a desire in Hersheypark officials to invest heavily in thrill rides.
—John Haddad, The Conversation, 3 Apr. 2026
Traders and investors are laser-focused on the inflation being kindled by higher oil prices.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 25 Mar. 2026
If ‘Oxen’ occupies a region of Ulysses where Joyce’s exquisite ear for memorably musical sentences (‘Mild fire of wine kindled his veins’) takes a back seat to the leaden hum of meta-literature, that is no reason not to be awed by his chutzpah.
—Literary Hub, 5 Feb. 2026
Watson had kindled a social media friendship with the NBA star and received an invite to one of his exclusive pickup runs.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 14 Jan. 2026
This is only slightly challenged by a flame kindled between Mindy and Alfie (Lucien Laviscount) earlier on in the show.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 5 Jan. 2026
The ballroom aces met on Broadway, kindled a romance on the reality dancing competition, and married in 2017.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kindled
Adjective
-
Please tell me the sequel could answer the most burning question of the ’00s: How could Austin not recognize Sam in that mask?—
Stephanie McNeal,
Glamour,
13 Aug. 2025
-
Cooper, 30, asked Hargitay one more burning question about the actors' on-screen alter egos: will Olivia and Elliot ever end up together?—
Victoria Edel,
People.com,
26 June 2025
Verb
-
Then the Nuggets burned themselves with a bad rotation in help defense.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
1 May 2026
-
The network later crashed and burned when Jim was convicted in 1989 of defrauding supporters of his PTL ministry of more than $150 million, including a $265,000 payment to church secretary Hahn to keep quiet about their affair.—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
Plants must endure and thrive through soft morning light and blazing summer afternoons, through shade one moment and full sun the next.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
4 May 2026
-
The plants are hardy in the South in USDA Zones 3-9, and the flowers of many blazing star species linger for a long time during the blooming season.—
Patricia S York,
Southern Living,
18 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The race to build data centers and deploy more complex AI systems that can complete tasks with limited oversight, known as agentic AI, has ignited fervent demand for central processing units, or CPUs.—
Alexa LoMonaco,
CNBC,
4 May 2026
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In an election, Ralph is voted tribal leader, while Jack and his choir boys reluctantly accept the responsibilities of hunting and keeping the fire — ignited with the help of Piggy’s thick spectacles — going.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
4 May 2026
Adjective
-
One young man, his shirt off and loosely draped around his neck along with a Santa Muerte necklace, sports tattoos of a Kalashnikov rifle and a flaming skull, regarding the camera with bedroom eyes.—
Chris Wiley,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Alex Tafoya was a much easier interview, even taking off his Ghost Rider flaming skull headpiece to talk.—
Peter Larsen,
Oc Register,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But Jones only lit a fuse that had been slowly burning in Romans for a lifetime.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
2 May 2026
-
That's when the lunar disk will pass opposite the sun in Earth's sky, appearing fully lit by the sun's rays.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
This year, the rumors swirl, a constant, low hum: Outer Heaven and Cuatro Gato, two more flickering lights, are expected to fade.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
2 July 2025
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But there’s more flickering contrast in Narayan van Maele’s lensing, which alternates dun realism with occasionally hyperreal lighting and composition, particularly when the pagan promise of fire is in the frame.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
25 Mar. 2022
Adjective
-
An Instagram post by New York City councilman Chi Ossé's was the spark that set the discourse aflame.—
Sam Stone,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Almost immediately, as the rumors were confirmed, gossip blogs and Reddit threads were aflame, monitoring how long this illicit relationship could have been going on while Ciara was none the wiser.—
Shamira Ibrahim,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Kindled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kindled. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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