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

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

inflamer noun

Synonyms

• 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 posters inflamed heated passion among those who put them up to raise awareness of the hostages and those who tore them down to show their opposition to Israel’s subsequent Gaza offensive. —Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 14 July 2025

Newsom and Bass have condemned Trump’s deployment of military forces for inflaming tensions in the city, but the Administration has argued that the deployment was necessary to assist ICE officials in carrying out operations. —Chad De Guzman, Time, 8 July 2025

Tensions between the textile-producing nations inflamed in May when armed clashes along the border left one Cambodian soldier dead. —Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 30 June 2025

And then George Floyd was murdered by police officers and the country was inflamed. —Maris Kreizman, Rolling Stone, 24 June 2025

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