variants
or less commonly enflame
inflamed also enflamed; inflaming also enflaming
1
a
: to excite to excessive or uncontrollable action or feeling
especially
: to make angry
b
: to make more heated or violent : intensify
insults served only to inflame the feud
2
: to set on fire : kindle
3
: to cause to redden or grow hot from anger or excitement
a face inflamed with passion
4
: to cause inflammation in (bodily tissue)
1
: to burst into flame
2
: to become excited or angered
3
: to become affected with inflammation
inflamer
noun
Examples of inflame in a Sentence
His angry speech inflamed the mob.
ideas that inflame the imagination
His comments have inflamed an already tense situation.
inflaming the passions of the mob
a chemical that can inflame the skin
Recent Examples on the Web
Health problems caused by ozone may include coughing, difficulty breathing, and inflamed and damaged airways, according to the agency.
—
Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
When overstressed, the tendon can become inflamed, resulting in pain, stiffness and weakness.
—Harlan Selesnick, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2025
The Modern Family cast has indeed reunited in various permutations over the years — none of them inflaming fan paranoia as much as 2023's reunion-sans-Burrell.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Sep. 2025
Milošević, who died while on trial for war crimes, did much to inflame Serbian nationalism in the early 1990s and presided over the bloody wars in Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo.
—Hanna Begić, The Conversation, 29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inflame
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Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
When overstressed, the tendon can become inflamed, resulting in pain, stiffness and weakness.
—Harlan Selesnick, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2025
The Modern Family cast has indeed reunited in various permutations over the years — none of them inflaming fan paranoia as much as 2023's reunion-sans-Burrell.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Sep. 2025
Milošević, who died while on trial for war crimes, did much to inflame Serbian nationalism in the early 1990s and presided over the bloody wars in Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo.
—Hanna Begić, The Conversation, 29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inflame
Cite this Entry
“Inflame.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inflame. Accessed 3 Oct. 2025.
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Medical Definition
inflame
verb
in·flame
in-ˈflām 
inflamed; inflaming
: to cause inflammation in (bodily tissue)
inflame the sinuses
: to become affected with inflammation
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