inferno
noun
in·fer·no
in-ˈfər-(ˌ)nō 
plural infernos
: a place or a state that resembles or suggests hell
the inferno of war
Examples of inferno in a Sentence
By the time help arrived, the fire had grown to a raging inferno.
the intense heat of the raging inferno repeatedly drove back the firefighters
Recent Examples on the Web
Climate change is a major contributor, as drought and rising global temperatures make the infernos bigger, faster and harder to stop.
—
Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 3 July 2025
And days before the Formula One Grand Prix in Jeddah in March 2022, the Houthi rebels fired a missile at an oil storage facility in the Saudi city and an inferno of fire and smoke filled the skyline.
—Dina Esfandiary, Time, 1 July 2025
When winds are fierce, flying is nearly impossible; hurricane-force winds that supercharged the Palisades and Eaton infernos initially grounded firefighting aircraft.
—Dorany Pineda, Los Angeles Times, 25 May 2025
Nearly half a year since the infernos swept through their neighborhoods, thousands of people remain displaced – those like Mr. Quiroz’s mother, who lost homes, and those like Mr. Quiroz and his family, whose homes still stand.
—Melanie Stetson Freeman, Christian Science Monitor, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for inferno
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Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 3 July 2025
And days before the Formula One Grand Prix in Jeddah in March 2022, the Houthi rebels fired a missile at an oil storage facility in the Saudi city and an inferno of fire and smoke filled the skyline.
—Dina Esfandiary, Time, 1 July 2025
When winds are fierce, flying is nearly impossible; hurricane-force winds that supercharged the Palisades and Eaton infernos initially grounded firefighting aircraft.
—Dorany Pineda, Los Angeles Times, 25 May 2025
Nearly half a year since the infernos swept through their neighborhoods, thousands of people remain displaced – those like Mr. Quiroz’s mother, who lost homes, and those like Mr. Quiroz and his family, whose homes still stand.
—Melanie Stetson Freeman, Christian Science Monitor, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for inferno
Cite this Entry
“Inferno.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inferno. Accessed 13 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
inferno
noun
in·fer·no
in-ˈfər-nō
plural infernos
: a place or state that resembles or suggests hell especially in great heat or raging fire
Etymology
from Italian inferno "underworld, hell," from Latin infernus (same meaning), from earlier infernus (adjective) "lying beneath, in the lower regions"
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