torching

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "torching" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts related to setting something on fire or causing destruction, often in a metaphorical sense. Example: "The protesters were accused of torching several vehicles during the demonstration."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In contrast to weak resistance in Anglo-American countries, European and Latin American countries have witnessed an escalation of desperate forms of public resistance to austerity measures (riots, occupations, torching of luxury cars and homes of the rich, smashing expensive shops and hijacking food trucks), thus placing governments on notice that there is a limit to their toleration of austerity.

The Guardian - Opinion

I witnessed militant young men pummeling and torching a police cruiser.

The Guardian - Opinion

Two weeks ago it took the commercial hub of Mubi, killing dozens and torching houses, and renamed it "Madinatul Islam" ("City of Islam" in Arabic), residents told AFP.

The Guardian

Loyalists have attacked Alliance personnel, driving members from their homes and torching their offices after the party voted in favour of removing the union flag from the top of Belfast city hall on Monday night.

The Guardian

Today's chaos is trashing human rights and torching values that many, including this newspaper, look to America to defend.

The Economist

Yet when faced with a 3,000-strong 3,000-strongorching mosques and attacking Arab shops in Tiberias, the police's orders were to "leave their guns in their cars".In the long run, says Hassan Jewishen, whose legal centre unofficially represents the victimob families, torchingings will educate Israeli Jews as to what the Israeli Palestinians' struggle is now about.

The Economist

During the campaign, Mr Mugabe's militia had rampaged through the Zimbabwean countryside, sometimes torching the huts of suspected opposition supporters or holding their heads in buckets of water until they passed out.

The Economist

Even after the invasion started, Saddam did not expect the Americans to fight all the way to Baghdad a delusion that prevented him from torching his oilfields or opening the dams to flood southern Iraq.

The Economist

A party boss in Uttar Pradesh, India's most populous state, has promised to defend small shopkeepers by torching Walmart stores.

The Economist

Later a pro-Ukrainian crowd, including some far-right militants, sought revenge by torching the pro-Russian protest camp in front of the trade union building.

The Economist

Mr Pinker brings in the noble savage belief in the gentleness of primitive man and the ghost in the machine reluctance to abandon an immaterial mind or soul largely for the polemical fun of torching a few straw men.The idea of a blank slate came to underpin 20th-century behaviourism, typified by B.F. Skinner, for whom human beings were little more than conditioned automata.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "torching", consider the context and whether a more neutral term like "burning" or a more descriptive term like "setting ablaze" might be more appropriate. "Torching" can carry connotations of arson or malicious intent, so use it when that meaning is intended.

Common error

Avoid using "torching" in formal or academic writing unless you specifically want to convey a sense of violence or deliberate destruction. Opt for more neutral terms like "burning" or "incinerating" in professional contexts.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "torching" is a verb, specifically the present participle or gerund form of the verb "torch". It describes an ongoing action of setting something on fire. Ludwig examples confirm this usage in describing events and actions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Encyclopedias

6%

Science

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "torching" is a grammatically correct verb form commonly used to describe the act of setting something on fire, often with malicious intent. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's frequently found in news and media contexts, carrying a neutral to slightly informal tone. While generally acceptable, it's important to consider the specific context and audience, as more formal terms like "burning" or "incinerating" may be more appropriate in certain situations. When writing, be mindful of the negative connotations associated with "torching" and use it judiciously.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

setting ablaze

Focuses on the act of igniting something with the intention of burning it.

burning down

Implies the complete destruction of a structure by fire.

setting fire to

A more literal description of initiating a fire.

destroying by fire

Explicitly states the method of destruction is fire.

incinerating

Suggests a more complete and controlled burning process.

putting to the torch

A more dramatic and figurative way of saying setting something on fire.

consuming by flames

Emphasizes the rapid and complete destruction by fire.

razing

Broader term that implies complete destruction, not necessarily by fire.

gutting

Implies that the interior of something is destroyed by fire.

demolishing

Implies destruction or demolition but doesn't specify the method.

FAQs

How is "torching" typically used in a sentence?

The word "torching" is typically used as a verb, often in the continuous tense, to describe the act of setting something on fire, usually with malicious intent. For example, "The rioters were "torching cars" in the street."

What are some alternative words for "torching"?

Some alternative words for "torching" include "setting ablaze", "burning down", "setting fire to", or "incinerating". The best choice depends on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is "torching" a formal or informal word?

"Torching" is generally considered an informal word. It's suitable for news reports or descriptive writing where the intent is to convey action, but it might not be appropriate for academic or formal writing where a more neutral term like "burning" would be preferred.

What's the difference between "torching" and "burning"?

"Burning" is a general term for something being consumed by fire. "Torching" often implies a deliberate act of arson or malicious destruction by fire. While all "torching" involves burning, not all burning is "torching". It suggests intentional and often destructive ignition.