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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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 inflammatory Coffee may have stronger anti-inflammatory effects in the morning when inflammatory molecules are naturally higher, which could support heart health. Sarah Bence, Verywell Health, 1 Apr. 2026 Hasan Piker's emergence as a Democratic campaign surrogate has split the party between those who see him as a crucial bridge to millions of young voters and those who view his inflammatory rhetoric as a liability that could cost elections. Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026 The White House has dismissed comparisons of the president to fascists as inflammatory and inaccurate. Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 30 Mar. 2026 For inflammatory diseases like psoriasis, the intensity of physical activity mattered more than the total amount. Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 30 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for inflammatory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inflammatory
Adjective
  • Who gets to tell the story is, to me, one of the most interesting and provocative questions in any dynamic, particularly a family one.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Apr. 2026
  • Like Butler, Matsoukas is known for her provocative brand of storytelling and its unique and inherently multicultural point of view.
    Angelique Jackson, Variety, 8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Lai, an outspoken critic of China’s ruling Communist Party who founded the now-defunct Apple Daily, was found guilty in December of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and conspiring with others to publish seditious articles.
    ABC News, ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026
  • He was also found guilty of one count of publishing seditious materials under colonial-era legislation.
    Jennifer Jett, NBC news, 26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • The actors relish the pesky, droll, frequently adorable, sometimes incendiary individuality of their roles.
    Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2026
  • Magyar has promised to right the economy and rid the country of graft, studiously avoiding incendiary cultural issues.
    Isaac Stanley-Becker, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

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

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