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
Advanced liver fibrosis is a condition that occurs in the advanced stage of chronic liver disease, marked by a buildup of significant scar tissue due to chronic, long-term inflammation, according to the American Liver Foundation.
—
Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 3 Apr. 2026
In her memoir, Minnelli — one of the few entertainers to achieve EGOT status, winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony — addresses her long history of health struggles, including five stints in rehabilitation and her recovery from brain inflammation in 2000.
—Aidin Vaziri, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Apr. 2026
For example, Cheek cites research that connects altruistic behavior and a sense of purpose with reduced inflammation, as opposed to hedonistic pursuits, which can worsen inflammation.
—Keith Wagstaff, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2026
Ongoing inflammation in the digestive tract can interfere with how well nutrients are absorbed.
—Hadia Zainab, CNN Money, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inflammation
Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 3 Apr. 2026
In her memoir, Minnelli — one of the few entertainers to achieve EGOT status, winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony — addresses her long history of health struggles, including five stints in rehabilitation and her recovery from brain inflammation in 2000.
—Aidin Vaziri, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Apr. 2026
For example, Cheek cites research that connects altruistic behavior and a sense of purpose with reduced inflammation, as opposed to hedonistic pursuits, which can worsen inflammation.
—Keith Wagstaff, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2026
Ongoing inflammation in the digestive tract can interfere with how well nutrients are absorbed.
—Hadia Zainab, CNN Money, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inflammation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inflammation
Noun
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Bell's Palsy typically results from inflammation or swelling of the facial nerve (cranial nerve VII), and is often linked to viral infections that that impact the nerve.—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
7 Apr. 2026
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Both suffer from cerebral swelling (an oddly specific detail).—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Bank, a New York surgeon who founded a clinic focused on post-mastectomy pain, said the pain is believed to be triggered by nerves that are severed during surgery and then left that way.—
Brett Kelman,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
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Falter said there was some lingering pain on Wednesday.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
4 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inflammation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inflammation. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.
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