inflammatory
adjective
in·flam·ma·to·ry
in-ˈfla-mə-ˌtȯr-ē 
1
: tending to excite anger, disorder, or tumult
inflammatory remarks
argued that the evidence was only inflammatory and not probative of guilt
2
: tending to inflame or excite the senses
3
: accompanied by or tending to cause inflammation
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
Different genes for different cytokines, growth factors or other proteins could be swapped in to target specific diseases of the ocular surface, potentially extending the approach beyond corneal wounds to chronic inflammatory conditions.
—
Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 16 June 2026
The technology could eventually treat corneal injuries, severe dry eye disease and other inflammatory disorders of the ocular surface, though it has not yet been tested in humans.
—Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 16 June 2026
In fact, there is compelling evidence that fermented vegetables, in particular, could potentially treat or prevent inflammatory diseases.
—Lana Barhum, Verywell Health, 12 June 2026
But Collins has proven to be a hard target for Democrats over the years — even for candidates without the baggage of Platner, who has faced criticism for his relationships with women, inflammatory online posts and a previous tattoo recognized as a Nazi symbol.
—ABC News, 10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for inflammatory
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Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 16 June 2026
The technology could eventually treat corneal injuries, severe dry eye disease and other inflammatory disorders of the ocular surface, though it has not yet been tested in humans.
—Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 16 June 2026
In fact, there is compelling evidence that fermented vegetables, in particular, could potentially treat or prevent inflammatory diseases.
—Lana Barhum, Verywell Health, 12 June 2026
But Collins has proven to be a hard target for Democrats over the years — even for candidates without the baggage of Platner, who has faced criticism for his relationships with women, inflammatory online posts and a previous tattoo recognized as a Nazi symbol.
—ABC News, 10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for inflammatory
Cite this Entry
“Inflammatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inflammatory. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
inflammatory
adjective
in·flam·ma·to·ry
in-ˈflam-ə-ˌtōr-ē
-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-
: 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 inflammatory—F. D. Doucette
F. D. DoucetteNote: 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.
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