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
Eyewitnesses told authorities Sanford got out of his truck shooting at members with an assault rifle then set off an inferno as terrified members rushed to get everyone out of the building.
—
Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 4 Oct. 2025
The inferno moved rapidly, quickly engulfing the chapel – with an unknown number of people still inside.
—Holly Yan, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2025
The streamer will also be on stage for a panel about Paul Greengrass’ The Lost Bus, in which a wayward school bus driver and a dedicated school teacher battle to save 22 children from a terrifying inferno.
—The Deadline Team, Deadline, 29 Sep. 2025
The two fires combined into an inferno following months of drought amid a winter nearly devoid of snow.
—Colleen Slevin, Twin Cities, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inferno
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Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 4 Oct. 2025
The inferno moved rapidly, quickly engulfing the chapel – with an unknown number of people still inside.
—Holly Yan, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2025
The streamer will also be on stage for a panel about Paul Greengrass’ The Lost Bus, in which a wayward school bus driver and a dedicated school teacher battle to save 22 children from a terrifying inferno.
—The Deadline Team, Deadline, 29 Sep. 2025
The two fires combined into an inferno following months of drought amid a winter nearly devoid of snow.
—Colleen Slevin, Twin Cities, 24 Sep. 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 7 Oct. 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"
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