conflagration

noun

con·​fla·​gra·​tion ˌkän-flə-ˈgrā-shən How to pronounce conflagration (audio)
1
: fire
especially : a large disastrous fire
The conflagration destroyed the warehouses.
2
: conflict, war
The conflagration between the two countries lasted for ten years.

Examples of conflagration in a Sentence

The treaty is the latest attempt to resolve the ten-year conflagration. the historic tavern burned to the ground in a horrible conflagration
Recent Examples on the Web Meanwhile, forecasts indicated that a deluge, intense enough to raise concerns about flooding, rolled toward the region on Friday, promising, or threatening, to replace concerns about conflagration with worries about inundation. Martin Weil, Washington Post, 23 Mar. 2024 That makes the conflagration the largest wildfire in Texas history—and there’s no end in sight as dry air and high winds are expected to pick up again later today and carry on through the weekend. Chris Morris, Fortune, 1 Mar. 2024 The apparent decision to avoid the J-word must have been made long before the most recent conflagration in the Middle East, but the movie, pitting Fremen fundamentalists against a genocidal oppressor, can scarcely hope to escape the horror of recent headlines. Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 27 Feb. 2024 The repercussions of the conflict are now felt all over the world, signified by massive demonstrations from Paris to Caracas, for and against both sides of the conflagration. Steven Gaydos, Variety, 27 Feb. 2024 Shortly after takeoff, that freshly refueled Cessna hit power lines and crashed, its full tanks stoking a conflagration. Allison Elyse Gualtieri, CBS News, 14 Feb. 2024 Their message to the Israeli government is clear: Eliminate the threat, even at the risk of a wider conflagration. Neri Zilber, The Christian Science Monitor, 16 Nov. 2023 See our picks for the best reads of the month Family secrets uncovered, a murderer awakened, and a conflagration in Greece — here are PEOPLE's picks for the best new books of January. People Staff, Peoplemag, 2 Jan. 2024 Today, two questions are vital: Have the conflagrations of recent years pushed the blocs off their old path? Philipp Carlsson-Szlezak, Fortune, 12 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'conflagration.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin conflagration-, conflagratio, from conflagrare — see conflagrant

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of conflagration was in 1600

Dictionary Entries Near conflagration

Cite this Entry

“Conflagration.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conflagration. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

conflagration

noun
con·​fla·​gra·​tion ˌkän-flə-ˈgrā-shən How to pronounce conflagration (audio)
: a large disastrous fire

More from Merriam-Webster on conflagration

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