incensed
Americanadjective
verb
Etymology
Origin of incensed
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.
Vocabulary lists containing incensed
Mad Infinitum: Synonyms for "Angry"
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Born a Crime
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The Diary of a Young Girl
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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.
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, the men stated they were together and kissed each other.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 23, 2025
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, the star's manager decided to shop the song around to movie studios.
From BBC • Sep. 29, 2022
Incensed, Penelope rang the doorbell, first once, then twice, then a third time.
From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood
Definitions 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.
