inflammatory
Americanadjective
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tending to arouse anger, hostility, passion, etc..
inflammatory speeches.
- Synonyms:
- provocative, incendiary, fiery
-
Pathology. of or caused by inflammation.
adjective
-
characterized by or caused by inflammation
-
tending to arouse violence, strong emotion, etc
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.
In addition, immune cells in these participants produced fewer inflammatory signals.
From Science Daily • Apr. 3, 2026
"What should I eat?" is one of the most common questions people with inflammatory bowel disease ask their doctors.
From Science Daily • Apr. 3, 2026
The author argues that Bovino’s inflammatory rhetoric and theatrical enforcement style backfired, with his unsubstantiated claim that slain ICU nurse Alex Pretti wanted to “massacre law enforcement” particularly damaging public perception of immigration enforcement efforts.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2026
Petrol retailers have strongly denied price-gouging, and earlier this month criticised the government for using "inflammatory language".
From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026
Pirow opposed this application for dismissal, and quoted from several inflammatory speeches by the accused, informing the court that the police had unearthed more evidence of a highly dangerous conspiracy.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
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.
