incendiary
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2 ENTRIES FOUND:

1in·cen·di·ary

noun \in-ˈsen-dē-ˌer-ē; -ˈsen-də-rē, -dyə-\
plural in·cen·di·ar·ies

Definition of INCENDIARY

1
a : a person who commits arson : arsonist
b : a substance or weapon (as a bomb) used to start fires
2
: a person who excites factions, quarrels, or sedition : agitator

Examples of INCENDIARY

  1. <firefighters caught the incendiary, who was watching the effects of his handiwork>
  2. <blamed the protests on outside incendiaries who were intent on overthrowing the government>
  3. He was convinced that the arsonist was not at all what the town imagined: not brazen, but callow; not an expert incendiary noiselessly plying deer paths, but someone who was driving right up to his targets and fumbling with matches … —Barry Werth, New England Monthly, February 1989

Origin of INCENDIARY

Middle English, from Latin incendiarius, from incendium conflagration, from incendere
First Known Use: 15th century

Related to INCENDIARY

Other Weapons and Explosives Terms

automatic, carbine, cudgel, muzzle, rapier

2in·cen·di·ary

adjective \in-ˈsen-dē-ˌer-ē; -ˈsen-də-rē, -dyə-\

Definition of INCENDIARY

1
: of, relating to, or involving arson : arsonous
2
: tending to excite or inflame : inflammatory <incendiary speeches>
3
a : igniting combustible materials spontaneously
b : of, relating to, or being a weapon (as a bomb) designed to start fires
4
: extremely hot <incendiary chili peppers>

Examples of INCENDIARY

  1. The fire was started by an incendiary bomb.
  2. <recklessly made incendiary remarks during a period of heightened racial tensions>
  3. While visual effects experts work with images, mechanical effects experts work with machinery, tools, incendiary devices, and other equipment to manipulate physical events during live-action filming. —Patricia D. Netzley, Encyclopedia of Movie Special Effects, 2000

Origin of INCENDIARY

(see 1incendiary)
First Known Use: 15th century

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