inflame

verb

in·flame in-ˈflām

variants or less commonly enflame

inflamed also enflamed; inflaming also enflaming

Synonyms of inflame next

transitive verb

: to excite to excessive or uncontrollable action or feeling

especially : to make angry

: to make more heated or violent : intensify

insults served only to inflame the feud

: to set on fire : kindle

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

a face inflamed with passion

: to cause inflammation in (bodily tissue)

intransitive verb

: to burst into flame

: to become excited or angered

: to become affected with inflammation

inflamer noun

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 Climate amplified droughts and storms in that region have inflamed existing conflict and insecurity, which are contributing to unprecedented levels of migration toward the U.S. border. —

Elizabeth Rayne, Ars Technica, 14 Nov. 2023 The lawsuits have been inflaming an already bleak auto insurance market in Florida — a state whose average auto insurance premium of $2,560 is the highest in the country. —

Eli Tan, Washington Post, 12 Nov. 2023 The Israel-Hamas war being waged half a world away is inflaming campuses here in the U.S. —

Nancy Cordes, CBS News, 30 Oct. 2023 These patches are uber sticky, not at all irritating, and form a protective barrier against environmental stressors that can inflame spots — including your pesky fingers. —

Cai Cramer, Peoplemag, 26 Oct. 2023 In the coming year, these cases could inflame political divisions and cast a shadow of uncertainty over the 2024 election. —

Sue Halpern, The New Yorker, 9 Nov. 2023 Lewiston deepens old wounds In Wells, the latest shooting has inflamed unhealed wounds for Simmons’ family. —

Melissa Chan, NBC News, 5 Nov. 2023 Violence in and around the Al Aqsa Mosque complex in Jerusalem would inflame Arab and Muslim passions around the world in a way that nothing in Gaza could. —

Hussein Ibish, The New Republic, 24 Oct. 2023 The catastrophic blast on Tuesday at a crowded hospital in Gaza inflamed passions — and anti-Israeli feelings — around the world. —

Adam Sella, New York Times, 21 Oct. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'inflame.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.