inflammatory

[in-flam-uh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee]

adjective

1. tending to arouse anger, hostility, passion, etc..

   inflammatory speeches.

   Synonyms: provocative, incendiary, fiery

2. Pathology.,  of or caused by inflammation.

inflammatory

/ ɪnˈflæmətərɪ, -trɪ /

adjective

1. characterized by or caused by inflammation

2. tending to arouse violence, strong emotion, etc

Other Word Forms

• inflammatorily adverb
• noninflammatory adjective
• subinflammatory adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of inflammatory¹

First recorded in 1725–35; from Latin inflammāt(us) “kindled” (past participle of inflammāre “to kindle”; inflame ) + -ory ¹

Example Sentences

The exceptions may be for certain groups, including the severely malnourished, the elderly, women going through menopause, and people with chronic inflammatory conditions.

From BBC

On Sunday, the police warned that sharing of "criminal and inflammatory" information was a misuse of social media driven by ill intentions.

From BBC

“No such federal investigation exists; no law enforcement agency has initiated any criminal proceedings or investigations related to racketeering charges against Ms. Kardashian or Ms. Jenner; and no credible evidence whatsoever supports these inflammatory allegations.”

From Los Angeles Times

Baroness Mone told Sir Keir: "I feel compelled to alert you to the dangerous and inflammatory statement made by your Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves."

From BBC

If the court declines to grant an acquittal, his attorneys argued that a new trial is required due to "severe spillover prejudice from reams of inflammatory evidence".

From BBC

Related Words

• incendiary 
• intemperate 
• provocative