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
Synonyms
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
The herb can help dry, red, irritated, or inflamed skin.
—
Lisa Desantis, Health, 1 June 2024
On perhaps the most salient issue of recent years—the U.K.’s withdrawal from the E.U., which a majority in Northern Ireland opposed and which has inflamed sectarian tensions—Sinn Féin was able to draw an even starker contrast between itself and the Brexit-backing DUP.
—Yasmeen Serhan, TIME, 30 May 2024
Here’s a review of the history of the word and how competing definitions are inflaming the debate over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip.
—Tracy Wilkinson, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2024
Biden’s address at the historically Black school in Atlanta brought him face to face with some of the campus unrest set off by the Israel-Hamas war, which has inflamed US politics and added risk to his reelection campaign.
—Bloomberg, Orange County Register, 21 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for inflame 
Lisa Desantis, Health, 1 June 2024
On perhaps the most salient issue of recent years—the U.K.’s withdrawal from the E.U., which a majority in Northern Ireland opposed and which has inflamed sectarian tensions—Sinn Féin was able to draw an even starker contrast between itself and the Brexit-backing DUP.
—Yasmeen Serhan, TIME, 30 May 2024
Here’s a review of the history of the word and how competing definitions are inflaming the debate over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip.
—Tracy Wilkinson, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2024
Biden’s address at the historically Black school in Atlanta brought him face to face with some of the campus unrest set off by the Israel-Hamas war, which has inflamed US politics and added risk to his reelection campaign.
—Bloomberg, Orange County Register, 21 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for inflame
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'inflame.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Inflame.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inflame. Accessed 11 Jun. 2024.
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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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