inflame

verb

in·​flame in-ˈflām 

variants or less commonly enflame

inflamed also enflamed; inflaming also enflaming

transitive verb

1

a

: to excite to excessive or uncontrollable action or feeling

especially : to make angry

His speech inflamed the mob.

b

: to make more active, heated, or violent : intensify

inflame the imagination

insults serving 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

Synonyms of inflame

• infuriate
• anger
• enrage
• irritate
• annoy

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

The fact that the awards ceremony, which has proven to be a bit of an annual bright spot during a tough period, has now been affected seems to have inflamed tensions even more. —Dominic Patten, Deadline, 1 Mar. 2026

Calming Medicinal Botanicals Korean insiders know that soothing ingredients such as mugwort extract and Centella asiatica (commonly referred to as cica) still reign supreme in K-Beauty to help treat inflamed or sensitive skin. —Charlotte Cho, Allure, 1 Mar. 2026

Trump then ordered the assassination of top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani in January 2020, further inflaming tensions between the two nations. —Brian Bennett, Time, 28 Feb. 2026

Although your emotions on a contentious subject need to be heard and processed by you, airing them carelessly to others might inflame the drama further. —Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 19 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Rhymes for inflame

• acclaim
• aflame
• airframe
• ballgame
• became
• declaim
• defame
• disclaim
• doorframe
• exclaim
• mainframe
• nickname

Kids Definition

inflame

verb

in·​flame in-ˈflām 

inflamed; inflaming

1

: to set on fire : kindle

2

: to excite to too much action or feeling

especially : to make angry

3

: to cause to redden or grow hot from anger or excitement

4

: to cause inflammation in (bodily tissue)

5

: to become affected with inflammation

Medical Definition

inflame

verb

in·​flame in-ˈflām 

inflamed; inflaming

transitive verb

: to cause inflammation in (bodily tissue)

inflame the sinuses

intransitive verb

: to become affected with inflammation