wildfires

plural of wildfire
as in blazes
a fire in a wild area (such as a forest) that is not controlled and that can burn a large area very quickly The recent wildfires were made worse by the strong winds.

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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 wildfires Singapore is now threatening to prosecute companies responsible for the wildfires. — Jay Ganglani, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026 Recent wildfires have stripped vegetation from nearby hillsides, leaving the ground more vulnerable to mudslides. — Brittney Ermon, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026 Both scenarios would have devastating consequences—dramatically transforming sea levels and ecosystems, and triggering compounding climate extremes such as higher temperatures and drought, increasing the likelihood of wildfires. — Simmone Shah, Time, 21 Oct. 2026 Before the 2025 tourist season, local and state officials had an opportunity to safeguard Ruidoso and adapt to the realities of a warming climate that is exacerbating wildfires and flooding. — Abe Streep, ProPublica, 21 Oct. 2026 The agency was established in 2021 to make sure electrical utilities work to reduce the risk of wildfires caused by their equipment. — Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 21 Oct. 2026 Large areas of Europe saw scorching temperatures this summer, with widespread wildfires, and at least 35,000 excess deaths thought to have been linked to the heat. — Robbie Griffiths, NPR, 21 Oct. 2026 Degradation from wildfires, logging and drought affects about 40% of the Amazon and has outpaced clear-cutting in recent years. — ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026 Well, get ready for a couple of days of hot, dry Santa Ana winds blowing in from the desert and putting parts of Southern California at high risk for wildfires. — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wildfires
Noun
  • With constant blazes, shrubs cannot replenish their seed banks fast enough and, eventually, there are few seeds left for the plants to grow from after fire.
    — Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Kent said embers from burning homes can ignite nearby properties, allowing fires to spread from one structure to another and potentially contribute to larger, more destructive blazes.
    — Steve Large, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The soaring temperatures have caused raging infernos across southern France and Spain, with European wildfires burning through 56% more land than in prior years.
    — Oliver Balch, Fortune, 27 July 2026
  • From a military perspective though, this strike, and the infernos which have engulfed other Wildberries facilities, have some important lessons for the rest of the world.
    — David Hambling, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
Noun
  • The arc of this feud is now well known to all and will no doubt be shaped into the epic poetry our descendants recite in front of bonfires long after our civilization collapses.
    — Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2026
  • That night, bonfires were set for a party that lasted into the morning.
    — Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 14 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Wildfires.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wildfires. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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