Definition of inflame
inflamed
alsoenflamed
;inflaming
alsoenflaming
transitive verb
1a : to excite to excessive or uncontrollable action or feeling; especially : to make angryb : 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
nounIndulge Your Inner Word Nerd
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
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Rayquan Borum, accused of a fatal shooting that further inflamed the uptown demonstrations last September, is considering an offer from prosecutors to plead guilty to second-degree murder and avoid a potential life behind bars, his attorney says.
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That immune attack inflamed and weakened Wartman's muscles so much that a fall in January cracked his skull.
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The surge has inflamed a long-standing dispute over the way European Union countries share the burden of accommodating refugees and migrants from Africa, the Middle East and beyond.
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Now, official Kremlin documents reviewed by McClatchy could further inflame the debate about whether the company’s relationship with Russian intelligence is more than rumor.
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Amazon.com Inc.’s recent bid to acquire Whole Foods Market Inc. inflamed concerns in the U.S. about big tech companies taking over America.
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As the illness progresses, gut tissue becomes increasingly inflamed and often starts to die, which can, in turn, rupture the intestine and flood the abdominal cavity with pathogenic microbes that proliferate to dangerous levels.
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Two immediate EU priorities, a solution for the border in Ireland that avoids inflaming sectarian tensions and settling the rights of each other’s citizens, should be relatively easy to achieve.
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While saner aides within the West Wing have reportedly impressed on Trump that firing Mueller would be political suicide, the rising tide of right-wing voices itching for a fight seems to have inflamed the president.
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
INFLAME Defined for English Language Learners
inflame
playDefinition of inflame for English Language Learners
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: to cause (a person or group) to become angry or violent
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: to make (something) more active, angry, or violent
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: to cause (a part of your body) to grow sore, red, and swollen
INFLAME Defined for Kids
inflame
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
playMedical Definition of inflame
inflamed
;inflaming
transitive verb
: to cause inflammation in (bodily tissue) inflame the sinusesintransitive verb
: to become affected with inflammation
Learn More about inflame
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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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