inflame

verb

in-ˈflām How to pronounce inflame (audio)
variants also enflame
Definition of inflamenext
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to burn
to set (something) on fire a carelessly tossed cigarette inflamed the papers in the trash can

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of inflame Then there’s the new electric Jaguar, a machine that inflamed the Internet and became the subject of global controversy when its conceptual precursor was revealed in late 2024. — Jason Barlow, Robb Report, 11 Oct. 2026 Democrats have been shut out of power in the House, Senate, and presidency since January 2025—the kind of situation that can inflame populist sentiment in an opposition party. — Thomas Shull, Washington Post, 9 Oct. 2026 Relying on remote technical collection could also avoid inflaming opposition by field officers who may not be prepared to take great personal risks to help the private sector. — David S. Cohen, Foreign Affairs, 8 Oct. 2026 The killing of a woman in Okinawa has sparked an outcry across Japan and inflamed long-simmering tensions over the US military presence on the island. — Harriet Marsden, TheWeek, 7 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for inflame
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inflame
  1. infuriate
  2. burn
  3. anger
  4. ignite
  5. enrage
  6. scorch
  7. irritate
  8. light
Verb
  • The lack of action has infuriated abuse survivors and their advocates.
    — Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Life was crazy and the entertainment business was weird and journalism was infuriating.
    — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of infuriate
Verb
  • And, like the Raptor engines that power another SpaceX launcher, the giant Starship, Clydesdale will burn liquid oxygen and liquid methane, a combo known as methalox.
    — Mike Wall, Space.com, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Residents evacuated as officials decided three days later to blow open five rail cars and burn the vinyl chloride inside.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of burn
Verb
  • Data center demand began driving up electric bills last year across a 13-state electricity grid stretching from Illinois to New Jersey and Maryland, angering ratepayers.
    — Marc Levy, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Indeed, the survey showed that use of the horn is the most common action when drivers consider another driver to be annoying or angering them.
    — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of anger
Verb
  • The concessions target the school grievances that helped ignite the unrest.
    — Thomas Adamson, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026
  • The incident has ignited protests on Okinawa and on the mainland of Japan in Tokyo.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of ignite
Verb
  • They were enraged at the way the current administration had decimated progressive policies toward children, women, people of color, gay people and transgender people.
    — Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The administration removed hundreds of trees from the East Potomac Golf Links over the weekend, enraging the judge.
    — Julia Boehning, The Hill, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of enrage
Verb
  • Unprecedented high temperatures scorched the continent from late May until the end of August this year.
    — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Its advanced technology generates precise light pulses that cut through delicate materials such as computer chips and human tissue without scorching surrounding tissue.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of scorch
Verb
  • These extra vessels increase inflammation and irritate surrounding nerves, making daily movement painful.
    — Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The key is knowing what’s likely to irritate your skin during a flare and what may spark an issue day-to-day even when your skin is clear.
    — Kara McGrath, Allure, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of irritate
Verb
  • Rose lights three candles in front of the altar, then rises to her feet to read from her phone.
    — Sam Kestenbaum, Harpers Magazine, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Light it from the front, and the cup looks green; light it from behind, and the color changes to a deep red.
    — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of light

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infixing
inflame
inflamed
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Cite this Entry

“Inflame.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inflame. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

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