incendiary
Americanadjective
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used or adapted for setting property on fire.
incendiary bombs.
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of or relating to the criminal setting on fire of property.
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tending to arouse strife, sedition, etc.; inflammatory.
incendiary speeches.
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tending to inflame the senses.
an incendiary extravaganza of music and dance.
noun
plural
incendiaries-
a person who deliberately sets fire to buildings or other property, as an arsonist.
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Military. a shell, bomb, or grenade containing napalm, thermite, or some other substance that burns with an intense heat.
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a person who stirs up strife, sedition, etc.; an agitator.
adjective
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of or relating to the illegal burning of property, goods, etc
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tending to create strife, violence, etc; inflammatory
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(of a substance) capable of catching fire, causing fires, or burning readily
noun
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a person who illegally sets fire to property, goods, etc; arsonist
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(esp formerly) a person who stirs up civil strife, violence, etc, for political reasons; agitator
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Also called: incendiary bomb. a bomb that is designed to start fires
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an incendiary substance, such as phosphorus
Etymology
Origin of incendiary
1600–10; < Latin incendiārius, equivalent to incendi ( um ) a fire ( incend ( ere ) to kindle ( in- in- 2 + -cendere, transitive v. from base of candēre to shine, be hot; candent, candid, candor ) + -ium -ium ) + -ārius -ary
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.
The state economy minister told German media that incendiary devices had caused the damage.
From BBC
Paul, who is a huge underdog in the heavyweight contest as a natural cruiserweight, was no less incendiary in response.
From BBC
Instead of more threats from zealots and incendiary statements from members of the Desmond family, it needs some healing, some understanding and some class.
From BBC
He said yes to Meathead, assuming that the sitcom’s hot-button bigotry would be so incendiary that it couldn’t possibly last longer than 13 episodes.
From Los Angeles Times
Mohamed Salah's incendiary interview attacking Liverpool head coach Arne Slot and the club after he was left out of the draw at Leeds United contained one memorable soundbite that stuck out above many others.
From BBC
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.
