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
The inferno rapidly spread in several high-rise towers in the city’s Tai Po neighborhood on Wednesday, trapping people inside.
—
Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 1 Dec. 2025
The inferno that tore through a high-rise housing complex in Hong Kong has killed at least 146 people, authorities said Sunday, with around 40 still missing.
—Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 30 Nov. 2025
Deadliest blaze since 1948 The fire is Hong Kong's deadliest since 1948, when 176 people died in a warehouse blaze, and has prompted comparisons to London's Grenfell Tower inferno, which killed 72 people in 2017.
—Jessie Pang, USA Today, 29 Nov. 2025
Unlike meteorites, which endure the destructive inferno of atmospheric entry, Bennu’s materials arrived on Earth untouched.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 28 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inferno
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 1 Dec. 2025
The inferno that tore through a high-rise housing complex in Hong Kong has killed at least 146 people, authorities said Sunday, with around 40 still missing.
—Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 30 Nov. 2025
Deadliest blaze since 1948 The fire is Hong Kong's deadliest since 1948, when 176 people died in a warehouse blaze, and has prompted comparisons to London's Grenfell Tower inferno, which killed 72 people in 2017.
—Jessie Pang, USA Today, 29 Nov. 2025
Unlike meteorites, which endure the destructive inferno of atmospheric entry, Bennu’s materials arrived on Earth untouched.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 28 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inferno
Cite this Entry
“Inferno.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inferno. Accessed 8 Dec. 2025.
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"
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share