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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 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 This incident continued to come up all season, dividing the group and inflaming the relationship between the Bookos and married couple Janet and Jason Caperna. — Kate Aurthur, Variety, 2 Sep. 2026 Injection sites can become infected, and veins can become inflamed or blocked by clots. — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 26 Aug. 2026 The attack killed at least five lower-ranking Hamas members and inflamed Middle East tensions as Israel continued to wage war against Hamas in Gaza. — ABC News, 25 Aug. 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
  • Some descendants worry that the new research from Kurin and his colleagues will only infuriate die-hard Jefferson apologists further.
    — Andrew Lawler, The Atlantic, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Both sides continue to infuriate the other, as the Jayhawks did last week.
    — Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of infuriate
Verb
  • In Indonesia, farmers rely on rain to dissolve fertilizers into the soil to avoid burning the plants, explained Eddy Martono, chairman of the Indonesian Palm Oil Association.
    — EDNA TARIGAN, Arkansas Online, 23 Sep. 2026
  • The greatest health risks arise when tobacco is burned, which generates thousands of toxic substances, including carcinogens, carbon monoxide and fine particulate matter.
    — Hasmeena Kathuria, The Conversation, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of burn
Verb
  • Abiy also angered Somalia by trying to negotiate access to the sea via the territory of Somaliland.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Sep. 2026
  • That is, Lamashtu spoke out about something that angered and disgusted the divine patriarch, and she was cast down to earth.
    — Eleanor Johnson, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of anger
Verb
  • The flame was soon to ignite when both were cast in the 1937 film Fire Over England.
    — Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Her resistance ignites a conflict that exposes hidden secrets, shifting loyalties and traditions that have shaped the family for generations.
    — Ed Meza, Variety, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of ignite
Verb
  • The drama reignited a heated debate over the tech threatening to put human creatives in the industry out of a job, a nightmare scenario that has enraged some of the most influential minds in Hollywood.
    — Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Monken has decided to stick with Deshaun Watson as his QB1, a move that has confused and enraged some of the fanbase.
    — Takashi Williams, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of enrage
Verb
  • This has always been a heated game, the rivalry burning hot long before Kiffin scorched the Earth on his way out the door.
    — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 20 Sep. 2026
  • The Ross Fire in Palo Pinto County has been fully extinguished after burning for 23 days and scorching roughly 90,000 acres across North Texas.
    — Amelia Mugavero, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of scorch
Verb
  • Its sap may also irritate the skin, and cutting or mowing the plant may create additional exposure risks.
    — SJ McShane, Martha Stewart, 18 Sep. 2026
  • The textured surface made whisking things like custard or béchamel irritating as the whisk repeatedly snagged on the textured surface.
    — Wilder Davies, Bon Appetit Magazine, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of irritate
Verb
  • Campers were beginning to gather; here or there a phone lit a face out of the night like a pilgrim in a tenebrist tableau.
    — J. B. MacKinnon, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Jim Harbaugh, enough with the positive enthusiasm and light a fire under your troops.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of light

Browse Nearby Words

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 26 Sep. 2026.

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