incensing 1 of 4

incensing

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noun

incensing

3 of 4

verb (1)

present participle of incense

incensing

4 of 4

verb (2)

present participle of incense
as in scenting
to fill or infuse with a pleasant odor or odor-releasing substance the gift shop was heavily incensed with a cloying mixture of herbal essences

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 incensing
Verb
On the other hand, the Department of Justice redacted the names of several people who are not survivors -- incensing not only members of Congress but also survivors of Epstein's crimes who charge that the administration is engaged in a cover-up. — John Parkinson, ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026 Amid the crackdown, Renee Good, 37, and Alex Pretti, 37, were both shot and killed by federal immigration authorities in separate confrontations, incensing large swaths of the nation. — Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 30 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incensing
Adjective
  • Turkish football is a chaotic, infuriating, sometimes horrible but always entertaining place.
    — Nick Miller, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • And to me, that is just one of the most infuriating parts of all of this.
    — Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • This hampers several of my favorite performances, especially Harper, whose Ben is full of sarcastic indignation, and June Laporte as Ginny, an aspiring reporter in need of proper mentoring.
    — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Both our indignation when the wicked flourish and our sorrow when the righteous suffer have their source in this assumption.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • After a gig in Brighton, England in December 1981, the Kinks singer smashed a glass against the wall backstage, angering Honeyman-Scott, who wound up punching Davies as a fight ensued.
    — Rachel DeSantis, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Rebecca regrets angering Matthijs (Matteo van der Grijn) after putting his daughter in the middle of a heated discussion around the possibility of Matthijs moving to London.
    — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Our essential oil diffuser, nebulizer, and basket full of oils have been happily taken in by my mother-in-law, and are now scenting her living and guest room.
    — The Spruce, The Spruce, 14 Sep. 2026
  • The point is simply to have fun tapping into senses and dimensions, whether scenting love notes or entire honeymoon suites.
    — Arden Fanning Andrews, Vogue, 21 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • The Best Books of the Year (So Far) Our editors and critics choose the most captivating, notable, brilliant, surprising, absorbing, weird, thought-provoking, and talked-about books.
    — Hannah Jocelyn, New Yorker, 24 June 2026
  • Chiarella has come up with an ingenious premise that is as twisted as it is thought-provoking.
    — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 18 June 2026
Noun
  • Hold rates and risk the ire of the markets for looking out of touch.
    — Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Oakland is implementing a new encampment policy that allows inhabited vehicles to be cited and towed more quickly, drawing the ire of RV dwellers who say the city is reneging on its promises.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 15 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • North Carolina and Bill Belichick got zero, no doubt enraging girlfriend Jordon Hudson.
    — Greg Cote August 2, Miami Herald, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Before the agreement was announced, Israeli forces struck in Beirut, enraging Trump, who has publicly expressed his fury with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
    — Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 15 June 2026
Verb
  • Castellón To the north, Castellón unfolds as a mountainous marvel where medieval citadels, golden beaches, and tiny fishing villages create a landscape of contrasts, with the scent of citrus perfuming the air.
    — Condé Nast Traveler, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Butterflies are drawn to the small, white flowers that cover plants in spring, perfuming the garden with their sweet fragrance.
    — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 24 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Incensing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incensing. Accessed 25 Sep. 2026.

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