as in explosive
capable of catching or being set on fire
don't store oily rags and other combustible materials in a hot attic
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Recent Examples of combustible
When a fire begins in a room without ventilation, the heat radiates downward, eventually engulfing all combustible items in its path, causing a flashover, per NFPA.
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Melina Khan, USA Today, 2 Jan. 2026
Valais Attorney General Beatrice Pilloudsaid confirmed on Friday the boozy fireworks were likely the cause, with the flames triggering a violent ignition of combustible gases known as a flashover, causing the flames to spread suddenly.
—Emma Bussey , Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 2 Jan. 2026
The fire will also have generated a mix of combustible gasses, MacKenzie said, which will start to ignite.
—Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 2 Jan. 2026
Officials described how the blaze likely triggered the release of combustible gases that ignited violently and caused what English-speaking firefighters call a flashover or backdraft.
—Jamey Keaten, Chicago Tribune, 1 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for combustible
Recent Examples of Synonyms for combustible
Adjective
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While chatting with Fallon, Sink shared a few thoughts on the explosive finale of Stranger Things—some of which proved to be a little controversial.—
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McNeil-Warren is an explosive, rangy defender with sound tackling technique, and a violent finisher.—
Adjective
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The design eliminates flammable liquid electrolytes and thermal runaway risks, addressing long-standing safety concerns associated with conventional lithium-ion batteries.—
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In Brazil, the 2013 fire at Kiss nightclub caused by people setting off fireworks that ignited flammable soundproofing foam, killing more than 200 people, leading to fire safety reforms in that country as well.—
Adjective
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Luckily, the cartoon cat didn't explode, as the balloon was filled with non-inflammable helium.—
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Police found the construction company name on inflammable polystyrene boards that firefighters found blocking some windows at the apartment complex.—
Adjective
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The facility at 6411 Oak Canyon was slated to close at the end of 2025, but city leaders changed plans recently and area residents can continue to visit the site to dispose of paint cans, batteries and anything that contains corrosive, toxic, ignitable or reactive ingredients.—
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The training process also exposes canines to six classifications of ignitable liquids.—
Adjective
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There haven't been fiery and destructive protests.—
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Workers will be able to relocate from the burning universe of bribes to the fiery one of taxes.—
Cite this Entry
“Combustible.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/combustible. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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