Synonyms for kindle
Most common
Synonyms by meaning
Verb
1. Arouse — to arouse or inspire (a passion, etc)
arouse, ignite, light, inflame, fire up, provoke, rouse, excite, incite, stir up, wake, awaken, light up, stimulate, stoke, foment, animate, inspire, quicken, whip up, raise, perk up
2. Set on fire — to start (a fire) or light (a torch, a match, coals, etc.)
fire, set on fire, set fire to, take fire, torch, set alight
Definitions
- v. 1
To start (a fire) or light (a torch, a match, coals, etc.).
- v. 2
To arouse or inspire (a passion, etc).
He kindled an enthusiasm for the project in his fellow workers.
Related words
- Word family
- kindle-coal kindle-fire kindling
- Is a kind of
- begin create clowder clutter glaring
Forms
- Past participle
- kindled
e.g. kindled → aroused, ignited, lighted, inflamed…
Choose the right word
To kindle is to set on fire, as if with a candle; ignite is the more learned and scientific word for the same thing, extending even to the heating of metals to a state of incandescence without burning.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- raise Why did you turn down his request for a pay raise?
- ignite What you wish to ignite in another must burn inside you.
By length
- 4 letters
- fire2, wake1
- 5 letters
- light1, raise1, stoke1, torch1, rouse1
- 6 letters
- ignite2, awaken3, excite2, incite2, arouse2, foment2
- 7 letters
- inspire2, provoke2, animate3, quicken2, inflame2
- 9 letters
- stimulate3
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (fire2 = 2 syllables).
In other languages
- Français
- allumer
- Italiano
- infiammare
- Español
- encender
- Deutsch
- anzünden
- Català
- encendre