inflame

verb in·flame \ in-ˈflām \

variants: or less commonly enflame

|Updated on: 13 Jul 2018

Examples: inflame in a Sentence

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

Bell left the court in a wheelchair and missed Golden State’s next 14 games with an inflamed left ankle.

— connor letourneau, SFChronicle.com, "Jordan Bell: How Warriors center handled up-and-down rookie season," 30 June 2018
That irritation would overwhelm skin that is already inflamed from acne or rosacea.

— crystal martin, New York Times, "Exfoliation Tips for the Best Skin Ever," 25 June 2018
Vietnamese are also inflamed about a cybersecurity law approved by the National Assembly last week that requires companies such as Facebook Inc. and Alphabet Inc.

— john boudreau, Bloomberg.com, "In Vietnam, Discontent Lurks Under Surface of Economic Success," 19 June 2018
Conjunctivitis happens when your conjunctiva (the thin, clear tissue lining your eyelids and the whites of your eyes) get inflamed.

— korin miller, SELF, "This Is When to See a Doctor About Eye Pain ASAP," 19 June 2018
On May 14, the day the U.S. Embassy was officially inaugurated in Jerusalem, tensions were further inflamed, and Israeli forces killed more than 60 Palestinian protesters and wounded thousands.

— ruth eglash, chicagotribune.com, "Argentine soccer team cancels match in Israel amid death threats against Lionel Messi," 6 June 2018
He was informed on May 29 the lymph nodes in the surrounding area where the cancer took hold were inflamed.

— brian murphy, OrlandoSentinel.com, "UCF pitcher JJ Montgomery eager to get draft call, aid friend battling cancer," 5 June 2018
Running on it, bullpen sessions, pitching in the game let it get inflamed.

— john fay, Cincinnati.com, "Cincinnati Reds place Homer Bailey on the DL," 2 June 2018
In other cases, patients have become infected after the tattoo is inked, as the skin is inflamed, allowing easier access to microbes in the environment.

— judy schaechter, m.d., miamiherald, "Body art to be even more popular in future as kids emulate their tattooed parents," 29 May 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.

Origin and Etymology of inflame

Middle English enflamen, from Anglo-French enflamer, from Latin inflammare, from in- + flamma flame

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

See Words from the same year

inflame Synonyms

Phrases

get one's goat, rub the wrong way;

INFLAME Defined for English Language Learners

inflame

verb

Definition of inflame for English Language Learners

: to cause (a person or group) to become angry or violent
: to make (something) more active, angry, or violent
: to cause (a part of your body) to grow sore, red, and swollen

INFLAME Defined for Kids

inflame

verb in·flame \ in-ˈflām \

Definition of inflame for Students

inflamed; inflaming

1 : to make more active, excited, angry, or violent

His words inflamed the crowd.

2 : to cause to redden or grow hot (as from anger)

3 : to make or become sore, red, and swollen The chemical can inflame the skin.

Medical Dictionary

inflame

verb in·flame \ in-ˈflām \

medical Definition of inflame

inflamed; inflaming

transitive verb

: to cause inflammation in (bodily tissue)

inflame the sinuses

intransitive verb

: to become affected with inflammation

Learn More about inflame

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for inflame Spanish Central: Translation of inflame Nglish: Translation of inflame for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of inflame for Arabic speakers

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inflame

Definition of inflame

inflamer

Examples of inflame in a Sentence

Recent Examples of inflame from the Web

Origin and Etymology of inflame

inflame Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

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INFLAME Defined for English Language Learners

inflame

Definition of inflame for English Language Learners

INFLAME Defined for Kids

inflame

Definition of inflame for Students

Medical Dictionary

inflame

medical Definition of inflame

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