incendiarism

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

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR incendiarism ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the act or practice of an arsonist; malicious burning.

inflammatory behavior; agitation.

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

Related Words for incendiarism

torching, pyromania, firing

Examples from the Web for incendiarism

Historical Examples of incendiarism

He never soiled his pen in the putrescence of falsehood and incendiarism.
The Book of Khalid
Ameen Rihani
An edict was posted up fixing the penalties for incendiarism.
The Philippine Islands
John Foreman
It will be noticed that they both alluded to the incendiarism as 'this.'
Sarah's School Friend
May Baldwin
Wales continues in a distracted state, and acts of incendiarism are common.
The Economist
Various
The loss was great, incendiarism was suspected, and my grandfather was accused.
An Eagle Flight
Jos Rizal

British Dictionary definitions for incendiarism

incendiarism

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

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