1
as in burning
being on fire
the entire block was ablaze by the time firefighters arrived
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2
as in illuminated
filled with much light
that night the ballroom, ablaze with light, looked very different from the curtained room it usually was by day
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Recent Examples of ablaze
The concept of using light as a weapon dates back over 2,000 years to ancient Greece, where commander Hippocrates used polished mirrors to set Roman ships ablaze.
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Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 26 Dec. 2025
In perfect October fashion, a forest of oak and maple trees ablaze in peak seasonal glow greeted us upon arrival.
—T.j. Olwig, Travel + Leisure, 26 Dec. 2025
Not far away, on a concrete pad, a stack of wood pallets was ablaze, the flames whipping around in a heavy wind.
—IEEE Spectrum, 24 Dec. 2025
The get-togethers are full of laughter and food, and one year, a gust of wind sent the patio fire pit embers onto an outdoor couch, setting it ablaze.
—Josh Peter, USA Today, 19 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ablaze
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ablaze
Adjective
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Please tell me the sequel could answer the most burning question of the ’00s: How could Austin not recognize Sam in that mask?—
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Cooper, 30, asked Hargitay one more burning question about the actors' on-screen alter egos: will Olivia and Elliot ever end up together?—
Adjective
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Key features of the self-standing stick vacuum are the tangle-free illuminated head, three suction levels, and multiple attachments like the upholstery tool for streamlined cleaning.—
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The illuminated blueberry, a longtime symbol of the town's identity, will be lowered at midnight outside Town Hall as part of a celebration that begins earlier in the evening with live music and fireworks.—
Adjective
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At such proximity, intense stellar heat vaporizes material from the planet's surface, which then streams into space, forming a blazing, comet-like tail.—
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In nuclear thermal rockets, a small nuclear reactor heats up a propellant — often liquid hydrogen — to blazing temperatures in the thousands of degrees.—
Adjective
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Bowie sported a flaming red mullet, glamorous outfits and pale white makeup for the character, who became a lasting symbol of the 1970s.—
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The coup de grâce is a wagon packed with flaming barrels, which is shepherded down a hill and into the front of the Van Ness manor, setting it ablaze and offering a defiant victory for the underdogs.—
Adjective
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Then the ships are all aflame and there’s fire everywhere.—
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When police exited their vehicle, some people began to jump on the hood of the car, and the cruiser was then hit by fireworks and set aflame.—
Adjective
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Tips for Making Cherry Cookies Decker’s recipe doesn’t call for softened butter, but allowing the butter to soften before beating it with the sugar (a process known as creaming) will lead to a lighter, fluffier texture.—
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At this point reduce watering to 2 to 3 times per week, apply light applications of fertilizer during the growing season, prune plants lightly in fall to winter, and add fresh mulch in fall.—
Adjective
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This year, the rumors swirl, a constant, low hum: Outer Heaven and Cuatro Gato, two more flickering lights, are expected to fade.—
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But there’s more flickering contrast in Narayan van Maele’s lensing, which alternates dun realism with occasionally hyperreal lighting and composition, particularly when the pagan promise of fire is in the frame.—
Adjective
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Bure is keeping her faith — and her Christmas crown — shining bright.—
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Researchers have discovered the brightest and most powerful flare ever seen from a supermassive black hole.—
Cite this Entry
“Ablaze.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ablaze. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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