in·cense
ˈin-ˌsen(t)s 
1
: material used to produce a fragrant odor when burned
2
: the perfume exhaled from some spices and gums when burned
broadly
: a pleasing scent
3
: pleasing attention : flattery
in·cense
ˈin-ˌsen(t)s
incensed; incensing
in·cense
in-ˈsen(t)s
incensed; incensing
1
: to arouse the extreme anger or indignation of
2
archaic
: to cause (a passion or emotion) to become aroused
Synonyms
Examples of incense in a Sentence
Noun
the heavenly incense of spring flowers
count on the office manager to spread the incense whenever there's a visiting VIP from the head office
Verb (1)
the gift shop was heavily incensed with a cloying mixture of herbal essences
Verb (2)
the insult so incensed him that he had to be restrained from hitting the guy
Recent Examples on the Web
Jeff A. Chamer, Charlotte Observer, 23 May 2024
The Ceiba occupies a central position in various Mesoamerican mythologies, while the imposing tree’s thorns turn up as ritual decoration on ancient Maya incense burners and burial urns.
—Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2024
Adjacent to the space is the lobby, an area perfumed with copal incense and adorned with jewel-toned seating.
—Michaela Trimble, Vogue, 2 May 2024
In a video, Hudson showed off a framed portrait of her and Fujikawa embracing and smiling at each other, as incense burn on the table in front of the photo.
—Charlotte Phillipp, Peoplemag, 21 Apr. 2024
Not far from Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, dozens of members of Gaza’s tiny Palestinian Christian community gathered at the Holy Family Church to celebrate Easter, with incense wafting through the rare building that appeared untouched by war.
—Melanie Lindman, Wafaa Shurafa, and Samy Magdy, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Apr. 2024
Nearby, Cheung Shing Fans Factory sells incense sticks and essential oils (300 dollars per vial) and pricey sandalwood fans.
—Tiffany May, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Mar. 2024
The Mass was filled with children dressed in pastels, choir music and lots of incense.
—Lindsey Holden, Sacramento Bee, 31 Mar. 2024
Lockshin is burning incense in his living room, on a hill with a view of downtown Los Angeles.
—Christopher Goffard, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2024
Letter Writers, Twin Cities, 12 May 2024
One image of a dancing skeleton in particular incensed some theatergoers.
—Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Social media influencers were incensed that Biden’s administration last year approved a drilling project, known as the Willow Project, on Alaska’s North Slope.
—Noah Bierman, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2024
Students were also incensed by fatal shootings of students by authorities amid protests at Jackson State University, in Mississippi, and Kent State University in Ohio.
—Richard Fausset, New York Times, 4 May 2024
Cole said her daughter often became incensed over her social media posts that didn’t perform well.
—Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2024
Wegmann, like the rest of the press corps, was incensed.
—Kyle Paoletta, Harper's Magazine, 30 Mar. 2024
Anthony Edwards was incensed after his essentially game-clinching throwdown that put the Timberwolves up by four points with a minute to play against the Thunder in Monday night’s game in Oklahoma City.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 30 Jan. 2024
Sam Sanchez, a Chicago restaurateur, was incensed when President Biden announced last September that his administration would extend work eligibility to nearly half a million Venezuelans, many of them migrants who had recently crossed the border illegally.
—Lydia Depillis, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2024
Noun
The department said Esquivel admitted to fabricating the event, and police determined that the child was accidentally burned by incense when left unattended.
—Jeff A. Chamer, Charlotte Observer, 23 May 2024
The Ceiba occupies a central position in various Mesoamerican mythologies, while the imposing tree’s thorns turn up as ritual decoration on ancient Maya incense burners and burial urns.
—Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2024
Adjacent to the space is the lobby, an area perfumed with copal incense and adorned with jewel-toned seating.
—Michaela Trimble, Vogue, 2 May 2024
In a video, Hudson showed off a framed portrait of her and Fujikawa embracing and smiling at each other, as incense burn on the table in front of the photo.
—Charlotte Phillipp, Peoplemag, 21 Apr. 2024
Not far from Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, dozens of members of Gaza’s tiny Palestinian Christian community gathered at the Holy Family Church to celebrate Easter, with incense wafting through the rare building that appeared untouched by war.
—Melanie Lindman, Wafaa Shurafa, and Samy Magdy, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Apr. 2024
Nearby, Cheung Shing Fans Factory sells incense sticks and essential oils (300 dollars per vial) and pricey sandalwood fans.
—Tiffany May, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Mar. 2024
The Mass was filled with children dressed in pastels, choir music and lots of incense.
—Lindsey Holden, Sacramento Bee, 31 Mar. 2024
Lockshin is burning incense in his living room, on a hill with a view of downtown Los Angeles.
—Christopher Goffard, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2024
Verb
Carol Turnbull, Woodbury Rightfully incensed Campus protesters are rightfully incensed about the mayhem in Gaza.
—Letter Writers, Twin Cities, 12 May 2024
One image of a dancing skeleton in particular incensed some theatergoers.
—Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Social media influencers were incensed that Biden’s administration last year approved a drilling project, known as the Willow Project, on Alaska’s North Slope.
—Noah Bierman, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2024
Students were also incensed by fatal shootings of students by authorities amid protests at Jackson State University, in Mississippi, and Kent State University in Ohio.
—Richard Fausset, New York Times, 4 May 2024
Cole said her daughter often became incensed over her social media posts that didn’t perform well.
—Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2024
Wegmann, like the rest of the press corps, was incensed.
—Kyle Paoletta, Harper's Magazine, 30 Mar. 2024
Anthony Edwards was incensed after his essentially game-clinching throwdown that put the Timberwolves up by four points with a minute to play against the Thunder in Monday night’s game in Oklahoma City.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 30 Jan. 2024
Sam Sanchez, a Chicago restaurateur, was incensed when President Biden announced last September that his administration would extend work eligibility to nearly half a million Venezuelans, many of them migrants who had recently crossed the border illegally.
—Lydia Depillis, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'incense.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near incense
Cite this Entry
“Incense.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/incense. Accessed 28 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
incense
1 of 2 noun
in·cense
ˈin-ˌsen(t)s
1
a
: material used to produce a fragrant odor when burned
b
: the odor so produced
2
: a pleasing scent
incense
2 of 2 verb
in·cense
in-ˈsen(t)s
incensed; incensing
: to make very angry
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