as in swelling
a condition in which a part of your body becomes red, swollen, and painful
The drug is used to reduce inflammation. Inflammation around a wound can signal an infection.
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Recent Examples of inflammation
Species linked to inflammation and lactate production became more prominent, including proinflammatory Streptococcus parasanguinis and Actinomyces oris, along with the lactate-producing Oribacterium sinus, while others associated with nutrient synthesis receded.
—
New Atlas, 14 Feb. 2026
Obesity can trigger chronic inflammation, which increases cancer rates.
—Nicole Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 14 Feb. 2026
Strawberries are also rich in anthocyanins, the antioxidants that give them their red color and help reduce inflammation.
—Daryl Austin, USA Today, 14 Feb. 2026
Drops in estrogen and progesterone also affect immune activity, resulting in more inflammation that could promote more sneezing, itching, and hives—or even being diagnosed with allergies for the first time during perimenopause.
—Jocelyn Solis-Moreira, Flow Space, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inflammation
New Atlas, 14 Feb. 2026
Obesity can trigger chronic inflammation, which increases cancer rates.
—Nicole Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 14 Feb. 2026
Strawberries are also rich in anthocyanins, the antioxidants that give them their red color and help reduce inflammation.
—Daryl Austin, USA Today, 14 Feb. 2026
Drops in estrogen and progesterone also affect immune activity, resulting in more inflammation that could promote more sneezing, itching, and hives—or even being diagnosed with allergies for the first time during perimenopause.
—Jocelyn Solis-Moreira, Flow Space, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inflammation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inflammation
Noun
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Second-generation antihistamines work by blocking histamine receptors in your skin to reduce itching and swelling.—
Zia Sherrell,
Health,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Some of those benefits are reduction in swelling and inflammation, pain relief, lowering of stress levels and fatigue.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Personality traits such as mental toughness, discipline, high pain tolerance and persistence may also lead to worsened eating disorder risk and behaviors in athletes.—
Emily Hemendinger,
The Conversation,
13 Feb. 2026
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And we are bound by ties of community, having attended the same summer camps, showed up at each other’s family celebrations, and felt each other’s pain.—
Lindsay Baach Friedmann,
Time,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inflammation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inflammation. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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