inflame

verb in·flame \ in-ˈflām \

variants: or less commonly enflame

Updated on: 7 Apr 2018

Definition of inflame

inflamed also enflamed; inflaming also enflaming

transitive verb

1 a : to excite to excessive or uncontrollable action or feeling; especially : to make angry

b : to make more heated or violent : intensify

insults served 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

See inflame defined for English-language learners

See inflame defined for kids

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 of inflame from the Web

The report cites a government shift from fighting a war on poverty in the 1960s to the war on drugs in the 1980s as inflaming racial rancor and braking progress.

— patrik jonsson, The Christian Science Monitor, "Fifty years after King, Atlantans see a dream still deferred," 4 Apr. 2018
Sterling's death inflamed racial tensions in the state's capital city and led to protests where nearly 200 people were arrested.

— crimesider staff, CBS News, "Alton Sterling shooting: Baton Rouge police to release new video today -- live updates," 30 Mar. 2018
Mustard agent — first used in World War I — can maim or kill, blistering skin, scarring eyes and inflaming airways.

— dan elliott, chicagotribune.com, "Over budget and behind schedule, U.S. plant to destroy chemical weapons a hazard to workers," 29 Mar. 2018
The request inflamed immigration and human rights advocates, who argued that immigrants already distrustful of the government would avoid filling out the census out of fear that their answers could jeopardize their status in the country.

— jeffrey mervis, Science | AAAS, "2020 census gets huge budget boost, but addition of citizenship question worries critics," 27 Mar. 2018
Sometimes, though, the immune system’s reaction can inflame the lungs, colon, or joints or shut down particular organs.

— greg kahn, Smithsonian, "Could Immunotherapy Lead the Way to Fighting Cancer?," 22 Mar. 2018
Russian agents targeted election systems in 21 states ahead of the 2016 general election, the Department of Homeland Security has said, and separately launched a social media blitz aimed at inflaming social tensions and sowing confusion.

— barnini chakraborty, Fox News, "Senate Intel Committee pushes for election security upgrades ahead of 2018 midterms," 20 Mar. 2018
Russian agents targeted election systems in 21 states ahead of the 2016 general election, the Homeland Security Department has said, and separately launched a social media blitz aimed at inflaming social tensions and sowing confusion.

— Washington Post, "Senate intelligence leaders aim to prevent election hacking," 20 Mar. 2018
Russian agents targeted election systems in 21 states ahead of the 2016 general election, the Department of Homeland Security says, and separately launched a social media blitz aimed at inflaming social tensions and sowing confusion.

— steve peoples, The Seattle Times, "Govs fear for election security amid Russian cyberattacks," 25 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'inflame.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.