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Showing results for inflammatory. Search instead for inflammatorily.
Synonyms

inflammatory

American  
[in-flam-uh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] / ɪnˈflæm əˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i /

adjective

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

    inflammatory speeches.

    Synonyms:
    provocative, incendiary, fiery
  2. Pathology. of or caused by inflammation.


inflammatory British  
/ ɪnˈflæmətərɪ, -trɪ /

adjective

  1. characterized by or caused by inflammation

  2. tending to arouse violence, strong emotion, etc

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • inflammatorily adverb
  • noninflammatory adjective
  • subinflammatory adjective

Etymology

Origin of inflammatory

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

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.

When oxygen levels are too low, wounds stay trapped in a prolonged inflammatory phase.

From Science Daily

Unlike well known inflammatory signals such as histamine and cytokines, epoxy-oxylipins belong to a lesser studied pathway that researchers believed might help naturally quiet the immune system.

From Science Daily

They also became the first to incorporate microglia -- immune cells found in the central nervous system -- to better replicate the inflammatory response that follows spinal cord injury.

From Science Daily

Although epibatidine has been investigated as a painkiller and for relief from painful inflammatory lung conditions, it is not used clinically because of its toxicity.

From BBC

Ambassador Nikki Haley warned that racially inflammatory content damages the party’s credibility.

From Salon