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 All of this—the investments by billionaires, the petty state legislation, fans claiming to be honoring the Native people they mock—is inflamed by ignorance of America’s genocide, absolutely. — Nick Martin, The New Republic, "There’s Nothing More American Than Native Mascots," 29 Jan. 2020 Such feelings are inflamed by demagogues, who wildly exaggerate the threat from a tiny minority of migrants—especially from crime. — The Economist, "Voters could make the world twice as rich. Why don’t they?," 16 Nov. 2019 No worms made an appearance during that visit, but the woman was informed that both her eyes were inflamed. — Allyson Chiu, chicagotribune.com, "She jogged through a swarm of flies. A month later she was pulling parasitic worms from her eye.," 7 Nov. 2019 In 2018, at least 20 people were killed in India, mostly in rural villages, in attacks by mobs that were inflamed by social media. — Rishabh R. Jain, The Seattle Times, "Facebook says it’s limiting false stories for India election," 27 Mar. 2019 But when Trump is gone from the scene, the left may be able to better distinguish those issues that could potentially unite a majority from those that will only divide and inflame. — John B. Judis, Washington Post, "I was a ’60s socialist. Today’s progressives are in danger of repeating my generation’s mistakes.," 21 Jan. 2020 Some patient chest scans have also shown lungs inflamed and filled with fluid, according to the WHO. — Mary Hui, Quartz, "What we know so far about China’s coronavirus outbreak," 20 Jan. 2020 Hyperpigmentation Take a stand against this common skin concern among women of color When cells containing melanin become inflamed, dark spots can appear. — Essence, "Everything You Need To Know To Get The Skin You Want This Year," 20 Jan. 2020 Kersh, 29, is accused of spitting at police during the Thanksgiving Day incident that was captured on video, widely circulated online and inflamed tensions between police and the African American community. — Javonte Anderson, chicagotribune.com, "Bernard Kersh walks out of Cook County Jail with mom, son and Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. following body-slam, spitting incident," 6 Dec. 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.