torching

verb

present participle of torch
as in burning
to set (something) on fire police suspect that the owner torched the house for the insurance money

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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 torching Video showed locals draped in Spanish flags, shouting anti-migrant slogans, and singing Spanish songs, torching the camp and throwing migrants’ belongings in the Mediterranean or into bonfires. — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 28 Aug. 2026 The Claremont Fire in the Boise Foothills had scorched 6,800 acres of terrain by Tuesday afternoon, torching sagebrush and shrubs, wildflowers and weeds, and narrowly avoiding homes. — Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 15 July 2026 But everyday people expressed their political outrage time and again, throwing rocks at and demolishing the houses of government officials, torching the king’s ships and forts and, eventually, marching to battle. — Robert Parkinson, The Conversation, 24 June 2026 In 1984, then unknown monologist Whoopi Goldberg premiered her provocative, thought-provoking one-woman show on Broadway, torching the rulebook of traditional solo performance in one of the most electrifying debuts of the era. — Greg Evans, Deadline, 23 June 2026 Setting intentional forest fires and letting other low-severity ones burn can significantly lower the chances of extreme blazes torching those same areas in the future, according to a new study released Thursday, while reducing toxic smoke over time. — Brianna Sacks, Washington Post, 11 June 2026 The finale kicks off by immediately torching Tom Ruffage (Rob Corddry) and Carl Bardolph's (Zach Galifianakis) relationship. — Matt Cabral, Entertainment Weekly, 1 June 2026 After torching the Cavs in the fourth quarter and overtime of Game 1, Jalen Brunson turned into much more of a facilitator. — Zach Harper, New York Times, 22 May 2026 Continue reading … LEFT'S CIVIL WAR — 'Pro-capitalist' Fetterman names names, torching fellow Dems as extremists. — FOXNews.com, 14 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for torching
  1. burning
  2. scorching
  3. igniting
Verb
  • The Ross Fire burning west of Fort Worth in Palo Pinto County appears to be holding steady at around 85,000 acres and 26% containment Friday, according to Texas A&M Forest Service officials.
    — Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Planet-heating emissions from burning fossil fuels such as oil, gas and coal are the primary driver of climate change.
    — Ava Berger, NPR, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of burning
Verb
  • Persistent drought and scorching heat this summer have ravaged ecosystems and businesses across the region, from a lake in Slovenia and the side channel of the Danube in Serbia, to fish farms in Bosnia, the Czech Republic, Romania and Hungary.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 Aug. 2026
  • While cooler fall days may be on the horizon, many students returning to school are still dealing with scorching end-of-summer temperatures.
    — Justin Klawans, TheWeek, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of scorching
Verb
  • Napier’s fate was effectively sealed in 2025 when defensive tackle Brendan Bett was penalized and ejected for spitting on a USF player, igniting the Bulls’ game-winning drive.
    — Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Aug. 2026
  • However, data show that roads actually tend to increase the risk of fires igniting.
    — Patrick Parenteau, The Conversation, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of igniting

Browse Nearby Words

torches
torching
torch song
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Torching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/torching. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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