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

He had revered the British Museum since he was a teenager and was incensed by the idea that a theft was continuing and that it was being perpetrated by a curator.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 21, 2026

Napoli were incensed after having a penalty award overturned and then a goal disallowed in the first half.

From Barron's • Feb. 22, 2026

Thiaw, still incensed by the referee's decision moments before to blow for a foul on Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi before Ismaila Sarr headed in, instructed his players to leave the field.

From BBC • Jan. 29, 2026

When I was a little girl, I was colored, then I was Negro, and when they said Black, I was incensed because your hair is black.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 29, 2026

Adele herded us into the bathroom and shut the door with an incensed slam.

From "Three Little Words: A Memoir" by Ashley Rhodes-Courter

Related Words

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