Synonyms of inflame

inflame

verb

in-ˈflām 

variants also enflame

1

as in to infuriate

to make angry

the newspaper editorial inflamed her enough to inspire her to dash off a letter to the editor

Synonyms & Similar Words

• infuriate
• anger
• enrage
• irritate
• annoy
• outrage
• rile
• offend
• rankle
• aggravate
• roil
• mad
• ire
• provoke
• steam up
• exasperate
• incense
• madden
• tick off
• rub the wrong way
• vex
• burn (up)
• pique
• antagonize
• affront
• embitter
• ruffle
• get one's goat
• cross
• put out
• get
• peeve
• huff
• nettle
• envenom
• miff

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• please
• relieve
• gratify
• delight
• allay
• assuage
• soothe
• appease
• pacify
• placate
• comfort
• conciliate
• console
• settle
• calm
• mollify
• quiet
• disarm
• charm
• lull
• captivate
• beguile
• bewitch
• enchant

2

as in to burn

to set (something) on fire

a carelessly tossed cigarette inflamed the papers in the trash can

Synonyms & Similar Words

• burn
• ignite
• scorch
• light
• illumine
• kindle
• fire
• enkindle
• illuminate
• torch
• bake
• cook
• lighten
• immolate
• incinerate
• brighten
• set off
• stoke
• reignite
• broil
• ash
• rekindle
• irradiate
• radiate
• char
• cremate
• deflagrate
• sear
• kiln
• relight
• frizzle
• scald
• scathe
• bank

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• extinguish
• quench
• put out
• choke
• smother
• douse
• dim
• dull
• stamp (out)
• snuff (out)
• suffocate
• obscure
• darken
• blacken

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of inflame

The gendered backlash spilled offline into a recent council meeting and is inflaming political divisions within College Park. — Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 22 Sep. 2026

Small bumps can also be blemishes caused by clogged or inflamed pores, particularly on acne-prone areas like the chest and back. — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 19 Sep. 2026

After a stabbing in Southport, England, in 2024, viral posts falsely claiming that the suspect was a Muslim and an undocumented migrant spread rapidly to millions via X and other platforms, inflaming the riots that ensued. — Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 14 Sep. 2026

Turley has argued that lawyers have an ethical obligation not to inflame public anger against jurors who exercise independent judgment during deliberations. — Brittany Miller , Bryan Llenas, FOXNews.com, 11 Sep. 2026