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.

This is not spoiling anything: When a story begins with its intensity needle as firmly in the red as this one does, there are no options left besides self-combustion.

From New York Times • Jan. 29, 2019

But what emerged from the ashes of inevitable self-combustion is a pure basketball conference unlike anything else today – and one that looks poised to be a player for years to come.

From The Guardian • Jan. 10, 2017

"I'd want to know if these microbatteries would be more prone to the self-combustion issues that plagued lithium-cobalt oxide batteries which we've seen become an issue of concern with Boeing's Dreamliner jets."

From BBC • Apr. 17, 2013

The Dutch were up first, and despite going down to 10 men, the Czechs' staunch display frustrated the oranje into some trademark self-combustion.

From The Guardian • Jul. 30, 2010

My whole heart shudders at the thrice-wretched self-combustion into which I see all manner of poor paper-lanterns go up, the wind of "popularity" puffing at them, and nothing left erelong but ashes and sooty wreck.

From The Correspondence of Thomas Carlyle and Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1834-1872, Vol. I by Carlyle, Thomas