inflammation

noun

Definition of inflammationnext
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.

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 inflammation These changes can set off processes in the body that promote chronic inflammation. — Karen Berger, Verywell Health, 6 Nov. 2026 The Hawks also announced that Gilbert had a nonsurgical procedure on Thursday at the Emory Sports Medicine Complex to address left knee inflammation. — Lauren Williams, AJC.com, 6 Nov. 2026 This is likely due to blueberries’ beneficial plant compounds, which help protect brain cells from oxidative stress and inflammation. — Lindsey Desoto, HEALTH, 5 Nov. 2026 The hormone also fights inflammation and acts as an antioxidant, says Lorenzon. — Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 5 Nov. 2026 See All Example Sentences for inflammation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inflammation
  1. swelling
  2. pain
Noun
  • The eagle also received physical therapy to regain strength in her legs and mitigate spinal pain and swelling.
    — Margherita Bassi, Popular Science, 2 Nov. 2026
  • MRIs also revealed, in some patients, brain swelling and microhemorrhages.
    — Manvir Singh, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of swelling
Noun
  • In contrast, consciousness is the ability to feel pain, pleasure, love and have subjective experiences.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Some wet their beds, experience chest pains, or cry out at night.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of pain

Browse Nearby Words

inflammable
inflammation
inflammations
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Inflammation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inflammation. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on inflammation

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about inflammation

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of cockamamie

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Old-Timey Vehicles

The Words of the Week - Nov. 6

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
woman sitting on floor holding book in front of her face on pink background
Famous Novels, Last Lines Quiz Needless to say, spoiler alert.
See All