inflame

verb

in·​flame in-ˈflām 

variants or less commonly enflame

inflamed also enflamed; inflaming also enflaming

transitive verb

1

a

: to excite to excessive or uncontrollable action or feeling

especially : to make angry

His speech inflamed the mob.

b

: to make more active, heated, or violent : intensify

inflame the imagination

insults serving 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)

intransitive verb

1

: to burst into flame

2

: to become excited or angered

3

: to become affected with inflammation

inflamer noun

Synonyms of inflame

• infuriate
• anger
• enrage
• irritate
• annoy

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 list, which the city is legally required to publish, inflamed tensions between the mayor and the city’s wealthy, many of whom argued the roll amounted to doxing or public shaming. — Anthony Izaguirre, Fortune, 13 Aug. 2026

In the late 1980s, surging food prices inflamed the popular discontent behind the Tiananmen Square protests, which resulted in the massacre of protesters in 1989. — Caitlin Welsh, Foreign Affairs, 11 Aug. 2026

The flies lay hundreds of eggs in the wounds, inflamed tissue, mucous membranes, and orifices of warm-blooded creatures. — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 7 Aug. 2026

Philly neighborhoods with a higher percentage of green areas, by contrast, have lower levels of diesel particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and other toxic air pollutants, which inflame and irritate the respiratory system. — Mahbubur Meenar, The Conversation, 5 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English enflamen, from Anglo-French enflamer, from Latin inflammare, from in- + flamma flame

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Rhymes for inflame

• acclaim
• aflame
• airframe
• ballgame
• became
• declaim
• defame
• disclaim
• doorframe
• exclaim
• mainframe
• nickname

Kids Definition

inflame

verb

in·​flame in-ˈflām 

inflamed; inflaming

1

: to set on fire : kindle

2

: to excite to too much action or feeling

especially : to make angry

3

: to cause to redden or grow hot from anger or excitement

4

: to cause inflammation in (bodily tissue)

5

: to become affected with inflammation

Medical Definition

inflame

verb

in·​flame in-ˈflām 

inflamed; inflaming

transitive verb

: to cause inflammation in (bodily tissue)

inflame the sinuses

intransitive verb

: to become affected with inflammation