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 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 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 administration officials argue that Washington is merely trying to avoid unnecessarily infuriating Beijing.
    — David Sacks, Foreign Affairs, 28 Sep. 2026
  • 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
Definition of infuriate
Verb
  • This photograph shows a fire burning at the Dobrobut medical centre following a Russian aerial attack on Kyiv on 28 September 2026, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
    — Sam Meredith, CNBC, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Continue reading … CHIPS OFF THE TABLE — Former Obama aide says Democratic donors still feel burned, cautious after 2024.
    — , FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of burn
Verb
  • The housing crunch has been simmering for years in Spain, eating into household budgets and angering voters.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Although the Biennale eventually restored the name, the decision angered China, which claims sovereignty over Taiwan.
    — Vivienne Chow, ARTnews.com, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of anger
Verb
  • The James Madison transfer broke the deadlock against Maryland on a fourth-and-one near midfield, taking a direct snap 45 yards to the house and igniting scoring that seemingly never stopped.
    — Connor Dullinger, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Still, the perception that the food supply is riskier has been enough to ignite political rancor.
    — Stephanie Armour, CBS News, 28 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
  • Check between presses to avoid overheating or scorching the fabric.
    — Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Keep in mind that heat still radiates from the bulb, so the lamp should sit on a stable surface away from paper, fabric or anything else that could scorch.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of scorch
Verb
  • The gaps that irritate people daily are rarely the gaps that can hurt the company.
    — Jeremy Bradley-Silverio Donato, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026
  • This metric is a little misleading—most bills that get introduced never go anywhere—and the claim tends to irritate Collins’s critics.
    — Emma Green, New Yorker, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of irritate
Verb
  • The room is dimly lighted but for yellow and red string lights that produce radiant, shimmying splotches on the concrete floor.
    — Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026
  • UCHealth recommends removing clutter and cords and keeping hallways well lit as simple starting points that don’t require any construction.
    — Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 29 Sep. 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 2 Oct. 2026.

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