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kindling

[kind-ling] / ˈkɪnd lɪŋ /
NOUN
material for starting a fire
Synonyms


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.

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The AI boom could provide kindling, as more of the benefits could ripple out to other parts of the economy, said Eric Winograd, an economist at AllianceBernstein.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 25, 2026

An ash tree in my yard dropped a limb and reduced my fence to kindling.

From MarketWatch ● Apr. 21, 2026

We matter as much to him as a firestorm cares about kindling.

From Salon ● Mar. 20, 2026

“Surveillance footage shows a suspect collecting rubbish from a public trash can, also collecting wood for kindling and placing it near the base of a power pole,” said Scott, describing the Oct.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 4, 2024

If they didn’t have wood or kindling, they curled against one another, barely touching, but by morning, they’d be pressed together, breathing in tandem, cocooned in muzzy sleep, a single crescent moon.

From "Six of Crows" by Leigh Bardugo

Their previous album, II, had kindlings of groove but Multi-Love is lit up by it like a fairground at night.

From The Guardian ● Jun. 9, 2015

Which of the following natural fine kindlings will not reliably ignite?

From Time Magazine Archive

Cut into pieces, the apple tree can be carpentered into a table, or at the least its kindlings will give off a splendid flame.

From Time Magazine Archive

Now the smoke was simply pouring out, not only out of the paper but out of the kindlings, too.

From "Miracles on Maple Hill" by Virginia Sorensen

There was a sawhorse, and there were three different-sized woodpiles, one of big pieces, one of middle-sized pieces, and one of little pieces for kindlings, all ranked perfectly.

From "Miracles on Maple Hill" by Virginia Sorensen




Vocabulary lists containing kindling


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