inflame

verb

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in·flame | \ in-ˈflām

variants: or less commonly enflame

inflamed also enflamed; inflaming also enflaming

Definition of inflame

transitive verb

1a : 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

Other Words from inflame Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about inflame

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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 on the Web Both have been carefully curated to inflame America’s culture wars. — Nicole Perlroth, New York Times, "A Former Fox News Executive Divides Americans Using Russian Tactics," 21 Nov. 2019 The next year, Russia’s Internet Research Agency began mobilizing its network of fake accounts, across every major social-media platform—exploiting the new outrage machine in order to inflame partisan divisions and advance Russian goals. — Jonathan Haidt, The Atlantic, "Why It Feels Like Everything Is Going Haywire," 12 Nov. 2019 The violence, fueled by demands for democratic reforms, is likely to further inflame passions in Hong Kong after a student who fell during an earlier protest succumbed to his injuries and died on Friday. — Fox News, "Hong Kong protester shot at close range, counterprotester set on fire in latest escalation of violence," 11 Nov. 2019 The company's decision to idle the Lordstown plant and a subsequent effort to sell it to a tiny electric-truck maker Workhorse Group only served to inflame the UAW. — Kate Gibson, CBS News, "What striking autoworkers want from General Motors," 16 Sep. 2019 The movie coming out is made in order to inflame and cause chaos. — Angela Watercutter, WIRED, "People Are Tweeting About Videogames Now More Than Ever," 12 Aug. 2019 The violence is likely to further inflame passions in Hong Kong after a student who fell during an earlier protest succumbed to his injuries Friday and police arrested six pro-democracy lawmakers over the weekend. — Alice Fung, Anchorage Daily News, "Hong Kong police shoot protester, man set on fire in new escalation in conflict," 11 Nov. 2019 The violence is likely to further inflame passions in Hong Kong after a student who fell during an earlier protest succumbed to his injuries Friday and police arrested six pro-democracy lawmakers over the weekend. — Alice Fung, USA TODAY, "Hong Kong police shoot protester, man set on fire," 11 Nov. 2019 His bucket with about three minutes remaining gave the Cavs needed breathing room and seemed to inflame his confidence. — Chris Fedor, cleveland, "Cleveland Cavaliers’ Darius Garland puts on show in front of mentor Bradley Beal: ‘He was destined for this a long time ago’," 9 Nov. 2019

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.