inflammatory

adjective

in-ˈfla-mə-ˌtȯr-ē How to pronounce inflammatory (audio)
Definition of inflammatorynext
as in provocative
tending to excite political disorder or insurrection the restless crowd was stirred up by the inflammatory rhetoric

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 inflammatory Charlotte de Brabandt has undergone years of cancer treatment and multiple surgeries after she was diagnosed with a rare form of triple negative, stage 3, inflammatory breast cancer in 2022 at the age of 35. — ABC News, 28 Oct. 2026 Both drugs treat chronic inflammatory conditions, including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. — Kevin Simpson, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2026 These individuals also showed more severe symptoms on average and greater genetic risk for other health problems, including other mental health conditions, as well as inflammatory, metabolic and cardiovascular issues. — Payal Dhar, Scientific American, 27 Oct. 2026 Another study found that saffron may protect against certain inflammatory conditions, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). — Carrie Madormo, Verywell Health, 26 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for inflammatory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inflammatory
  1. provocative
  2. seditious
  3. incendiary
Adjective
  • The title of the film, God Will Not Help, seems deliberately provocative.
    — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 6 Nov. 2026
  • That so-fake-it’s-real argument has underpinned many provocative artistic movements over the years.
    — Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of provocative
Adjective
  • In October 2019, China paused sponsorship deals with the National Basketball Association after Houston Rockets executive Daryl Morey posted online in support of protests in Hong Kong, which Beijing characterizes as separatist and seditious.
    — Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Some were arrested over social media posts whose criticism of the government was alleged to be seditious.
    — Jennifer Jett, NBC news, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of seditious
Adjective
  • Al-Hassani allegedly coached the attacker through igniting and hurling a series of seemingly incendiary devices while Al-Saadi filmed.
    — Willem Marx, NPR, 11 Nov. 2026
  • Timing is everything; the piece ran on May 31st, on the precipice of Pride Month, and that gave it an incendiary lift.
    — Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of incendiary

Browse Nearby Words

inflammations
inflammatory
inflate
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Inflammatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inflammatory. Accessed 14 Nov. 2026.

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