inflame
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to kindle or excite (passions, desires, etc.).
-
to arouse to a high degree of passion or feeling.
His harangue inflamed the rabble.
-
to incite or rouse, as to violence.
His words inflamed the angry mob to riot.
-
(of an emotion, as rage) to cause to redden or grow heated.
Uncontrollable rage inflamed his face.
-
to cause inflammation in.
Her eyes were inflamed with crying.
-
to raise (the blood, bodily tissue, etc.) to a morbid or feverish heat.
-
to set aflame, ablaze, or afire; set on fire.
-
to redden with or as with flames.
The setting sun inflames the sky.
verb (used without object)
-
to burst into flame; take fire.
-
to be kindled, as passion.
-
to become hot with passion, as the heart.
-
to become excessively affected with inflammation.
verb
-
to arouse or become aroused to violent emotion
-
(tr) to increase or intensify; aggravate
-
to produce inflammation in (a tissue, organ, or part) or (of a tissue, etc) to become inflamed
-
to set or be set on fire; kindle
-
(tr) to cause to redden
Related Words
Other Word Forms
- inflamedness noun
- inflamer noun
- inflamingly adverb
- reinflame verb
- uninflamed adjective
Etymology
Origin of inflame
First recorded in 1300–50; in- 2 + flame; replacing Middle English enflammen, from Middle French enflammer, from Latin inflammāre “to kindle”
Explanation
To inflame is to make feelings stronger, or stir them up. Reminding your grandfather about the time his car was stolen may just inflame his anger. Getting a parking ticket might inflame your frustration, and when a city imposes a curfew it may inflame the community's feelings of resentment. Another way to inflame is more literal: to cause a physical condition that involves swelling, pain, and redness. Scratching your poison ivy rash will only inflame it in the long run, even if it briefly brings relief. Inflame is from the Latin inflammare, "set on fire" and "excite."
Vocabulary lists containing inflame
Inferno Lingo: Fire Vocabulary
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Novel Study: Julius Caesar, Act 3
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Canyon's Edge
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
They can inflame internal and external tensions and foment uncertainty.
From Barron's • Mar. 7, 2026
If one spouse exerts control and the other is disengaged or kept out of the loop, filing tax returns can inflame tensions and drive a wedge into the relationship.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 5, 2026
This involves the buildup of dense, fibrous tissue around the tumor, made up of cells and proteins that stiffen and inflame the area.
From Science Daily • Jan. 30, 2026
They worry that such coverage of illegal activities within the Kurdish community could inflame hostilities.
From BBC • Nov. 4, 2025
The Mercury Theatre team deserved a medal for shining a warning light on the way European dictators like Hitler, Mussolini, and Stalin used radio to “incite hatreds, inflame masses,...abolish reason and maintain themselves in power.”
From "Spooked!" by Gail Jarrow
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.
