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Definitions

set on fire

ADJECTIVE
fired
Synonyms
STRONGEST
burned
STRONG
alight baked burning enkindled glowing heated kindled kindling scorched smoking smoldering
WEAK
ablaze afire aflame incandescent on fire
VERB
fire
Synonyms
STRONG
enkindle ignite kindle light
WEAK
put a match to set ablaze set aflame set alight set fire to start a fire touch off
Antonyms
STRONG
extinguish put out
VERB
heat
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bake boil broil grill ignite melt reheat roast sear steam thaw toast warm
STRONG
bask blaze chafe char enkindle fire flame flush frizzle fry glow incandesce incinerate inflame kindle oxidate oxidize perspire scald scorch seethe singe smelt sun swelter
WEAK
calorify enflame grow hot grow warm raise the temperature tepefy warm up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
freeze
STRONG
put out
WEAK
cool
VERB
light
Synonyms
STRONGEST
burn ignite kindle
STRONG
enkindle fire flame inflame spark
WEAK
set fire to strike a match
Antonyms
STRONGEST
extinguish put out
WEAK
drench quench

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Electronic tchotchkes are ubiquitous but many people have little or no access to nutritious food or health care as our environment is run through a meat grinder and set on fire.

From Salon • Feb. 20, 2026

Persian-language TV channels based outside Iran also posted images of a statue of Soleimani in the central city of Kashan being set on fire.

From Barron's • Jan. 8, 2026

Not much mention is made of Alexandria’s library—first set on fire accidentally by Julius Caesar and damaged fatally over the ensuing years—or its epic lighthouse, one of the fabled Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 14, 2025

One production hired a tank, while in another a mock police car was set on fire.

From BBC • Jun. 28, 2025

His skin felt as though it’d been set on fire; everything inside him burned.

From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray