incense
1 Americannoun
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an aromatic gum or other substance producing a sweet odor when burned, used in religious ceremonies, to enhance a mood, etc.
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the perfume or smoke arising from such a substance when burned.
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any pleasant perfume or fragrance.
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homage or adulation.
verb (used with object)
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to perfume with incense.
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to burn incense for.
verb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
noun
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any of various aromatic substances burnt for their fragrant odour, esp in religious ceremonies
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the odour or smoke so produced
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any pleasant fragrant odour; aroma
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rare homage or adulation
verb
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to burn incense in honour of (a deity)
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(tr) to perfume or fumigate with incense
verb
Synonym Usage
See enrage.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of incense1
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English encens, incens, from Old French encens, from Late Latin incēnsum, literally, “something kindled,” neuter of incēnsus (past participle of incendere “to set on fire”); see also incendiary
Origin of incense2
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English incensen, ensensen “to fumigate, burn incense,” from Old French encenser, from Latin incēnsus; see incense 1
Explanation
Incense means both "to make angry" and a stick that burns slowly and emits a strong smell. If your new college roommate burns incense in your tiny dorm room, you might get incensed and storm out. How can a word that means a substance that is burned for its sweet odor come to mean "make very angry"? Both have to do with the idea of burning, and the Latin root incendere, "to set on fire." A stick of incense must be lit, or set on fire to release its smell. When you are incensed by something, such as your teacher slamming you with homework on the night of the prom, you feel like you are burning with anger.
Vocabulary lists containing incense
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
With wages stuck and youth unemployment stubbornly high, Chinese people have plenty of reasons to burn incense.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 23, 2026
The Guardian called the programme "the most controversial show of the year", external, and its four-star review said the documentary "will incense and offend some of its viewers", but that "Pemberton answers his questions convincingly".
From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026
A charcoal ceramic incense burner molded to look like a studded belt.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026
Mourners took turns gently pouring water over a hand of the deceased while others lit incense sticks and folded their hands in prayer.
From Barron's ● Aug. 9, 2026
I could still smell the scent of spices, perfume, and incense swirling around in the air.
From "The Night Diary" by Veera Hiranandani
Perloff was incensed by one letter where Holmes said she did not realize he was writing a story about her.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 21, 2026
He accused Swinney of trying to confiscate their business - a move he said had "incensed" owners.
From BBC ● Oct. 18, 2026
Many survivors of that day’s attacks are incensed, regarding the mass demolition of the damaged houses as an act of erasure, or vandalism against memory.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026
The blonde executive assistant to the president was then mentioned by a Democratic senate hopeful, in comments that set the internet alight -- and incensed the White House.
From Barron's ● Aug. 19, 2026
Yes, I was fairly incensed last night, but looking back, shouldn’t I be the one apologizing for what I did to her?
From "Odd One Out" by Nic Stone
"The Post Office Horizon scandal is a story so incensing, outrageous and downright ugly that I found it difficult to watch," she said.
From BBC ● Jan. 2, 2024
After the new flavor became popular and sold out, however, boxes started being resold on platforms such as eBay at marked-up prices, incensing the Girl Scouts organization.
From Washington Times ● Oct. 5, 2023
But Girardi and Lack continued appealing for years, incensing the 9th Circuit’s chief judge and others on the court.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 6, 2021
Personal photographs of Moreno lying in bed, as well as images of close family members dancing, were also leaked, further incensing him.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 11, 2019
You also noticed the Priest incensing the altar.
From The Faith of Our Fathers by James Gibbons
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
