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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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 Nodules can be caused by a variety of factors including scar tissue, lung irritants, inflammatory conditions, current or past infections, or cancer. — ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026 And that could lead to silent inflammatory signaling as well. — Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2026 The treatments also lowered the production of inflammatory signals that cause long-term swelling, and stimulated new blood vessel formation to nourish healing skin. — Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 7 Oct. 2026 History of cold sores, keloids, poor wound healing, eczema, psoriasis, contact reactions, or post-inflammatory pigment changes. — Malana Vantyler, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for inflammatory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inflammatory
  1. provocative
  2. seditious
  3. incendiary
Adjective
  • The compelling series achieves a provocative dissection of it all with rare confidence without the overindulgence of distracting CGI tossed in for sheer spectacle.
    — Jeff Spry, Space.com, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The latest comments therefore seemed predictable to regular viewers, rather than unexpectedly provocative.
    — Omar L. Gallaga, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of provocative
Adjective
  • Some were arrested over social media posts whose criticism of the government was alleged to be seditious.
    — Jennifer Jett, NBC news, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Its members used military formations during the January 6 attack, and the founder of the Oath Keepers was convicted of seditious conspiracy.
    — Daniel Benjamin, Foreign Affairs, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of seditious
Adjective
  • In 2019, the team heard about Hamas floating incendiary balloons over the border.
    — Margaux MacColl, Vanity Fair, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The 19-year-old student was arrested and faces charges of reckless endangerment and felony possession of an explosive or incendiary device, according to the arrest affidavit.
    — Dillon Thomas, CBS News, 16 Oct. 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 25 Oct. 2026.

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