variants
or less commonly enflame
inflamed also enflamed; inflaming also enflaming
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)
1
: to burst into flame
2
: to become excited or angered
3
: 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
The Kharg strike is now threatening to inflame those even more.
—
Zach Lachance, The Washington Examiner, 14 Mar. 2026
In its efforts to disrupt the project, Greenpeace, Energy Transfer alleged, distributed false and defamatory information about the project to inflame protesters and raise funds to further its goals.
—Mark Curriden, Dallas Morning News, 13 Mar. 2026
So what happens is that Meta puts out a set of talking points to inflame the right, and that is censorship, censorship, censorship.
—David Remnick, New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2026
At the heart of the dispute is the question of what exactly causes NEC – a devastating disease in which tissue lining the intestine becomes inflamed and dies.
—Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inflame
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Zach Lachance, The Washington Examiner, 14 Mar. 2026
In its efforts to disrupt the project, Greenpeace, Energy Transfer alleged, distributed false and defamatory information about the project to inflame protesters and raise funds to further its goals.
—Mark Curriden, Dallas Morning News, 13 Mar. 2026
So what happens is that Meta puts out a set of talking points to inflame the right, and that is censorship, censorship, censorship.
—David Remnick, New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2026
At the heart of the dispute is the question of what exactly causes NEC – a devastating disease in which tissue lining the intestine becomes inflamed and dies.
—Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inflame
Cite this Entry
“Inflame.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inflame. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Medical Definition
inflame
verb
in·flame
in-ˈflām 
inflamed; inflaming
: to cause inflammation in (bodily tissue)
inflame the sinuses
: to become affected with inflammation
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
