Definition of conflagrationnext
1
as in inferno
a destructive burning the historic tavern burned to the ground in a horrible conflagration

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2
as in hostilities
a state of armed violent struggle between states, nations, or groups what began as a skirmish over disputed territory erupted into a conflagration that swept the continent

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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 conflagration Previous splashdowns ended with conflagrations, an outcome SpaceX officials have come to expect with each water landing of Starship. Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 25 July 2026 An analysis found that communities combining these strategies were twice as likely to survive a major conflagration. Mira Rojanasakul, New York Times, 16 July 2026 More than 100 firefighters were assigned to the incident, working on the ground to attack the conflagration with hose-lines. Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026 Firefighters appeared to make progress in battling the fire, reporting Wednesday that the conflagration did not expand overnight. Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 8 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for conflagration
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conflagration
Noun
  • The inferno that follows, as the betrayer’s dragon sets fire to both armies and then Tumbleton itself, will be rendered with both practical flames and CGI.
    Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Charming, impulsive, and incapable of leaving a wound alone, Rodney is the sibling most likely to turn a spark into an inferno.
    Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 6 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • But that prompted Iran to attack vessels trying to bypass its own corridor, reigniting hostilities and leading to the current standoff.
    Jason Ma, Fortune, 9 Aug. 2026
  • But Trump’s decision to resume hostilities in February passed none of the Powell Doctrine’s tests.
    KORI SCHAKE, Foreign Affairs, 6 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Police and fire services already represent the largest category of city spending in California.
    Mariana Trujillo, Oc Register, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The fires have since been extinguished, according to officials.
    Richard Ramos, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • But last year, their relationship blew up amid a turf war over CPS employees.
    Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
  • While pursuing conservative, anti-migrant policies domestically, Meloni adopted a pragmatic approach toward the European Union and became one of Ukraine’s strongest supporters in its war against Russia.
    ABC News, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Conflagration.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conflagration. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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