arsonist
Sets buildings ablaze
An arsonist is someone who deliberately sets fire to property.
The term applies whether the motive is insurance fraud, revenge, thrill-seeking, or pyromania: Police arrested an arsonist who had set fires across three counties.
The word carries criminal connotation—accidentally starting a fire doesn't make someone an arsonist.
Serious crime perpetrator
- perpetratorOne who commits wrongdoing
- firebugDeliberate flame-setter
- incendiaryCausing or designed for burning
- offenderOne who breaks rules
convict · culprit · suspect · lawbreaker · delinquent · accomplice · fugitive · recidivist
Intense burning fire
- infernoDevastating, uncontrollable blaze
- conflagrationLarge destructive blaze
- flamesVisible burning combustion
- burningCombustion in progress
ignite · torch · combustion · accelerant · gasoline · kerosene · smoke · embers
Combustion-intensifying substance
- evidenceFacts supporting truth
- forensicsScientific crime-scene analysis
- fire marshalOfficial enforcing burn safety codes
- investigatorOne who examines evidence
detective · matches · ignition point · origin · witness · surveillance · arrest · prosecution
Deceptive claims for payouts
- revengePunishing a wrongdoer
- vandalismWillful property damage
- concealmentAct of hiding something
- extortionObtaining through threats
spite · hatred · profit · thrill-seeking · political · protest · intimidation · jealousy
Irresistible urge to act
- obsessionPersistent, intrusive preoccupation
- impulseSudden urge to act
- fascinationIntense absorbed interest
- fixationPersistent mental attachment
urge · thrill · pathology · disorder · recidivism · escalation · profile · behavioral pattern
Severe widespread destruction
- damageHarm or impairment
- rubbleBroken building fragments
- wreckageDestroyed remains of something
- ruinComplete destruction or collapse
gutted · charred remains · total loss · ashes · demolished · ravaged · scorched earth · razed
felon
Serious crime perpetrator
- perpetratorOne who commits wrongdoing
- firebugDeliberate flame-setter
- incendiaryCausing or designed for burning
offender · convict · culprit · suspect · lawbreaker · delinquent · accomplice · fugitive · recidivist · defendant
blaze
Intense burning fire
- infernoDevastating, uncontrollable blaze
- conflagrationLarge destructive blaze
- flamesVisible burning combustion
burning · ignite · torch · combustion · accelerant · gasoline · kerosene · smoke · embers · scorch
accelerant
Combustion-intensifying substance
- evidenceFacts supporting truth
- forensicsScientific crime-scene analysis
- fire marshalOfficial enforcing burn safety codes
investigator · detective · matches · ignition point · origin · witness · surveillance · arrest · prosecution · conviction
insurance fraud
Deceptive claims for payouts
- revengePunishing a wrongdoer
- vandalismWillful property damage
- concealmentAct of hiding something
extortion · spite · hatred · profit · thrill-seeking · political · protest · intimidation · jealousy · financial gain
compulsion
Irresistible urge to act
- obsessionPersistent, intrusive preoccupation
- impulseSudden urge to act
- fascinationIntense absorbed interest
fixation · urge · thrill · pathology · disorder · recidivism · escalation · profile · behavioral pattern · antisocial
devastation
Severe widespread destruction
ruin · gutted · charred remains · total loss · ashes · demolished · ravaged · scorched earth · razed · obliterated
- lawbreakersthief, robber, burglar, vandal, smuggler
- pyrosfirebug, fire starter, firestarter, incendiary
- fireflame, blaze, flames, inferno, embers
- dangersdanger, peril, hazard, risk, menace
- rule breakersrulebreaker, transgressor, violator, offender, lawbreaker
- arsonaccelerant, incendiarism, firebug, malicious intent, fire setting
arsonistfirefighter
Emergency blaze responder
fireman · fire marshal · smoke jumper · fire warden · fire brigade
arsonistfirefighter
Emergency blaze responder
rescuer · protector · first responder · hero · lifesaver