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
Chile’s inferno was fueled by extreme heat, with temperatures pushing above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and abnormally dry conditions — but it was also driven by human changes to the landscape.
—
Stefano Pozzebon, CNN Money, 26 Apr. 2026
After last year’s disastrous Eaton fire, Southern California Edison executives vowed to be transparent about what caused the inferno that killed at least 19 people and left thousands of families homeless in Altadena.
—Melody Petersen, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2026
On October 10, 1957, a raging inferno swept through the core of Unit 1 nuclear reactor at Windscale, Cumberland (now Sellafield, Cumbria) for three days.
—Kurt Snibbe, Oc Register, 25 Apr. 2026
Video of firefighters fighting the inferno shows massive flames shooting out of the top windows onto the roof’s parapet.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inferno
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Stefano Pozzebon, CNN Money, 26 Apr. 2026
After last year’s disastrous Eaton fire, Southern California Edison executives vowed to be transparent about what caused the inferno that killed at least 19 people and left thousands of families homeless in Altadena.
—Melody Petersen, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2026
On October 10, 1957, a raging inferno swept through the core of Unit 1 nuclear reactor at Windscale, Cumberland (now Sellafield, Cumbria) for three days.
—Kurt Snibbe, Oc Register, 25 Apr. 2026
Video of firefighters fighting the inferno shows massive flames shooting out of the top windows onto the roof’s parapet.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inferno
Cite this Entry
“Inferno.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inferno. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.
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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