incensed

American  

[in-senst] / ɪnˈsɛnst /

adjective

1. inflamed with anger; enraged.

   "I will not tolerate discrimination of any kind within my administration!" said the incensed mayor, filled with righteous indignation.

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verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of incense.

Etymology

Origin of incensed

incense ² ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Explanation

To be incensed is to be beyond mad. It's how you feel when fighting with your cell phone company's customer service representative whose only response is to quote company policy verbatim from a script. The Latin root of the word incense is incendere, meaning "to set on fire." Yes, it's the same root for the incense sticks burned in dorm rooms and churches. For this use, however, think instead about burning tempers instead of burning sticks.

Example Sentences

Incensed by the steady stream of traffic on “my” driveway, I soon put the property on the market.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2026

Incensed by the portrayal of the school, they staged a mass burning of the book.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2025

Incensed after hearing Ben-Gvir, who was then 21, boast in a radio interview that he had succeeded in scaring her away from Jerusalem, she sent the letter to The Associated Press and other news organizations.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 27, 2023

Incensed by the ruling, Williams instead parked his #92 racecar on the finish line, and waved to fans in the grandstand as he walked toward the pit road.

From Washington Times • Mar. 23, 2023

Incensed local lawmakers responded with monuments to legislative creativity.

From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand

Related Words

• dogged
• enraged
• exasperated
• indignant
• infuriated
• irate
• miffed