inflammatory

adjective

in·​flam·​ma·​to·​ry in-ˈfla-mə-ˌtȯr-ē How to pronounce inflammatory (audio)
1
: tending to excite anger, disorder, or tumult : seditious
2
: tending to inflame or excite the senses
3
: accompanied by or tending to cause inflammation
inflammatorily adverb

Examples of inflammatory in a Sentence

She had an acute inflammatory reaction to the drug. He incited the mob with an inflammatory speech.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The threat to target foreign peacekeeping forces in Ukraine is the latest of Russia’s inflammatory statements regarding outside involvement in the conflict. Darya Tarasova, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 2025 Festivalgoers suggested the pin was inflammatory or political propaganda. Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2025 This includes blood cell, metabolic, cardiovascular, and inflammatory markers, Navani says. Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 4 Sep. 2025 When there is excessive belly fat, the fat storage cells become too large, and this can result in the production and release of inflammatory proteins. Bryant Stamford, Louisville Courier Journal, 4 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for inflammatory

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1711, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of inflammatory was circa 1711

Cite this Entry

“Inflammatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inflammatory. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

inflammatory

adjective
in·​flam·​ma·​to·​ry in-ˈflam-ə-ˌtōr-ē How to pronounce inflammatory (audio)
-ˌtȯr-
1
: stirring up anger, disorder, or rebellion
inflammatory speeches
2
: causing or accompanied by inflammation
inflammatory diseases

Medical Definition

inflammatory

adjective
in·​flam·​ma·​to·​ry in-ˈflam-ə-ˌtōr-ē, -ˌtȯr- How to pronounce inflammatory (audio)
: accompanied by or tending to cause inflammation
inflammatory diseases

Legal Definition

inflammatory

noun
in·​flam·​ma·​to·​ry
in-ˈfla-mə-ˌtōr-ē
: tending to cause anger, animosity, or indignation
the use of an alias by a defendant is…almost always inflammatoryF. D. Doucette

Note: Evidence, and especially photographic evidence, may be deemed inadmissible if its inflammatory nature seriously outweighs its probative value or relevance. The mere fact that evidence is graphic or gruesome, however, is not enough to render it inadmissible.

More from Merriam-Webster on inflammatory

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