inflame

[ in-fleym ]

verb (used with object)

, in·flamed, in·flam·ing.

1. to kindle or excite (passions, desires, etc.).
2. to arouse to a high degree of passion or feeling:

   His harangue inflamed the rabble.

   Antonyms: soothe, cool

3. to incite or rouse, as to violence:

   His words inflamed the angry mob to riot.

4. (of an emotion, as rage) to cause to redden or grow heated:

   Uncontrollable rage inflamed his face.

5. to cause inflammation in:

   Her eyes were inflamed with crying.

6. to raise (the blood, bodily tissue, etc.) to a morbid or feverish heat.
7. to set aflame, ablaze, or afire; set on fire.
8. to redden with or as with flames:

   The setting sun inflames the sky.

verb (used without object)

, in·flamed, in·flam·ing.

1. to burst into flame; take fire.
2. to be kindled, as passion.
3. to become hot with passion, as the heart.
4. to become excessively affected with inflammation.

inflame

/ ɪnˈfleɪm /

verb

1. to arouse or become aroused to violent emotion
2. tr to increase or intensify; aggravate
3. to produce inflammation in (a tissue, organ, or part) or (of a tissue, etc) to become inflamed
4. to set or be set on fire; kindle
5. tr to cause to redden

Derived Forms

• inˈflamingly, adverb
• inˈflamer, noun

Other Words From

• in·flam·ed·ness [in-, fley, -mid-nis], noun
• in·flamer noun
• in·flaming·ly adverb
• rein·flame verb reinflamed reinflaming
• unin·flamed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of inflame¹

First recorded in 1300–50; in- ² + flame; replacing Middle English enflammen, from Middle French enflammer, from Latin inflammāre “to kindle”

Synonym Study

See incite. See kindle ¹.

Example Sentences

The coronavirus crisis has not only inflamed long-simmering inequities, economists say, it has resulted in the most unequal holiday season in decades.

From Washington Post

Faulconer and police officials have said they wanted to prevent the unsanitary conditions that once inflamed the hepatitis A outbreak and threatened both homeless San Diegans and the rest of the community.

From Voice of San Diego

We decided we weren’t going to listen anymore to the shouting cynics, to the foreign bots in a warehouse overseas paid to inflame our hatred of one another.

From Fortune

The air where I was visiting reached over 350 on the Air Quality Index, a level deemed hazardous, inflaming my asthma.

From Popular-Science

Despite this, they have been met with national guardsman armed with rubber bullets and egged on by a president seemingly determined to inflame the situation.

From No Straight News

But given their anti-government rhetoric, the Oath Keepers' presence could inflame tensions further.

From The Daily Beast

Ferguson, Mo., had returned to a state of wary unease but early morning looting is likely to inflame things.

From The Daily Beast

They simultaneously over-simplify and inflame a conflict that is already poorly understood.

From The Daily Beast

Fewer issues inflame political passions in my home state of California than affirmative action.

From The Daily Beast

Did the media and politicians inflame the situation for their own purposes?

From The Daily Beast

None of these liquids should be taken hot, but lukewarm; when hot they inflame the stomach, and produce indigestion.

From Project Gutenberg

When a reciprocal love shall inflame my veins, then my lips will grow purple, and my kisses will be of fire!

From Project Gutenberg

Their beauty, grace, and bewitching manner inflame the heart and imagination of all that set their eyes on them.

From Project Gutenberg

In these they found good wines, which served to inflame their blood; and then their shout was, 'Hutchinson!

From Project Gutenberg

This served to inflame them exceedingly, every man considering it as if it had been a plot against himself in particular.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• agitate
• arouse
• disturb
• embitter
• enrage
• exacerbate
• fire up
• foment
• heat up
• ignite
• incense
• infuriate
• intensify
• irritate
• kindle
• provoke
• rile
• roil
• rouse
• stimulate