torches 1 of 2

noun

plural of torch
as in igniters
a person who deliberately and unlawfully sets fire to a building or other property several suspicious fires in the past few months have probably been set by the same torch

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

torches

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of torch
as in burns
to set (something) on fire police suspect that the owner torched the house for the insurance money

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 torches
Noun
On the ground, part of the team used the traditional technique of igniting fires with drip torches or dry palm leaves. — ABC News, 7 June 2026 Some held torches to light the way as floodlights appeared to illuminate the rubble against the darkness of night. — Diego Mendoza, CNN Money, 28 June 2026 Or, try lighting citronella torches and candles around your outdoor entertaining space to keep mosquitoes at bay. — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 17 June 2026 These stand-up torches offer a warm, flickering glow while helping define walkways, patios, and gathering spaces. — Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 1 July 2026 Citronella candles, torches, and sprays are all made with the oil derived from citronella grass—which are different than scented geraniums. — Cori Sears, The Spruce, 13 June 2026 Bill Maher torches embattled Maine candidate over tattoo, texting and abuse claims. — FOXNews.com, 8 June 2026 The conflict that ensues is startling in the intensity of its violence, as bodies brawl and break in the mud, flaming torches are taken to the face, and red-hot blades are seared into flesh. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 11 June 2026 The list of fireworks that aren’t allowed includes bottle rockets, Roman candles, illuminating torches, missiles with fins or rudders and single or multi-shot parachutes with night effects. — Rashad Alexander, Kansas City Star, 30 June 2026
Verb
Hopper cut off a Demogorgon’s head, and Murray torches quite a few. — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 12 Nov. 2025 Continue reading … BENCH WARRED — Blanche torches Trump foe Boasberg after appeals court blocks judge again in deportation fight. — FOXNews.com, 15 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for torches
  1. arsonists
  2. burns
  3. lights
  4. fires
  5. kindles
  6. ignites
  7. scorches
Noun
  • Haney said that the Palisades Fire was a separate blaze started by unidentified arsonists and that prosecutors lacked physical evidence linking Rinderknecht to arson.
    — N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 26 June 2026
  • Moscow regularly recruits young men of various nationalities — the Starmer arsonists were Ukrainian-born — as proxies in its shadowy hybrid warfare campaigns, Reuters reported.
    — Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 15 June 2026
Definition of arsonists
Verb
  • Rucking burns significantly more calories than regular walking, builds full-body functional strength and supports bone density, all while staying gentler on the joints than running.
    — Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2026
  • Venus burns only 1 degree to the upper right of Regulus, which is 150 times fainter.
    — Joe Rao, Space.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of burns
Verb
  • Uyeyama lights the burners with a long match, then turns the roaster on.
    — Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2026
  • Patio lights Having warm and inviting outdoor lighting can help set a relaxing evening mood.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 29 June 2026
Definition of lights
Verb
  • Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force submarine fires a torpedo at the decommissioned USS Juneau in support of a live-fire sinking exercise (SINKEX) as part of Valiant Shield 2026 while underway in the Philippine Sea, June 27, 2026.
    — Peter Suciu, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • The playlist that fires you up for routine tasks is likely to interfere with more demanding work.
    — Bridget K. Daleiden, The Conversation, 29 June 2026
Definition of fires
Verb
  • While Martin Scorsese called it one of the scariest movies of all time, The Uninvited kindles a wonderful romance between Rick and Stella.
    — Steven Thrash, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Oct. 2025
  • The star of Big Little Lies confessed her new film, Caught Stealing, kindles a powerful yearning for some aspects of the era.
    — Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Definition of kindles
Verb
  • In these areas, forecasters are predicting wind gusts of about 35 to 55 mph and low humidity rates of 6% to 15%, meaning any fire that ignites will likely spread rapidly, according to the weather service.
    — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026
  • This fuel ignites hate against Muslims and Arabs.
    — Tazheen Nizam, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 June 2026
Definition of ignites
Verb
  • France followed its hottest-ever day with yet more brutal temperatures as a deadly heat wave scorches much of western Europe.
    — Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 24 June 2026
  • Protection from the sun is key for this plant because bright sun scorches its leaves.
    — Lauren David, Southern Living, 4 June 2026
Definition of scorches

Browse Nearby Words

torched
torches
torching
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Torches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/torches. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on torches

Nglish: Translation of torches for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All