incendiarism

[ in-sen-dee-uh-riz-uh m ]

/ ɪnˈsɛn di əˌrɪz əm /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR incendiarism ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the act or practice of an arsonist; malicious burning.

inflammatory behavior; agitation.

RELATED WORDS

torching, pyromania, firing

Nearby words

Origin of incendiarism

First recorded in 1665–75; incendiar(y) + -ism

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for incendiarism

Incendiarism raged to a great extent; no sooner was one fire extinguished, than another was discovered in an opposite quarter.
Antigua and the Antiguans, Volume I (of 2)|Anonymous
Incendiarism was rampant and the greatest excitement filled the public mind.
The Story of the Great Fire in St. John, N.B., June 20th, 1877|George Stewart
Mining and incendiarism proved far greater dangers than shot and shell.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 2|Various
Towards the end of the year wheat rose to a quarter, and incendiarism was common all over England.
The Revolution in Tanner's Lane|Mark Rutherford

They were three to one, armed, and desperate, and they counted him a likely witness to their incendiarism.
Unexplored!|Allen Chaffee

British Dictionary definitions for incendiarism

incendiarism

/ (ɪnˈsɛndɪəˌrɪzəm) /

noun

the act or practice of illegal burning; arson

(esp formerly) the creation of civil strife or violence for political reasons

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for incendiarism

incendiarism

1670s, figurative; 1837, literal; see incendiary + -ism.