inflame

verb

in·​flame in-ˈflām 

variants or less commonly enflame

inflamed also enflamed; inflaming also enflaming

transitive verb

1

a

: to excite to excessive or uncontrollable action or feeling

especially : to make angry

b

: to make more heated or violent : intensify

insults served only to inflame the feud

2

: to set on fire : kindle

3

: to cause to redden or grow hot from anger or excitement

a face inflamed with passion

4

: to cause inflammation in (bodily tissue)

intransitive verb

1

: to burst into flame

2

: to become excited or angered

3

: to become affected with inflammation

inflamer noun

Synonyms

• anger
• enrage
• incense
• infuriate
• ire
• mad
• madden
• outrage
• rankle
• rile
• roil
• steam up
• tick off

Examples of inflame in a Sentence

His angry speech inflamed the mob.

ideas that inflame the imagination

His comments have inflamed an already tense situation.

inflaming the passions of the mob

a chemical that can inflame the skin

Recent Examples on the Web

Symptoms include coughing, fever, stuffy or runny nose and shortness of breath, and may progress to bronchitis or pneumonia, where the lung airways or lungs themselves become inflamed. —Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 6 Jan. 2025

Image How Trump redefined the Jan. 6 riot as ‘a day of love’ Four years ago today, protesters stormed the U.S. Capitol with clubs, chemical irritants and other weapons, inflamed by Donald Trump’s lie that the 2020 election had been stolen from him. —Natasha Frost, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2025

The comments come as tensions between Russia and the West have been inflamed by an Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash last week that killed 38 people. —Colin Meyn, The Hill, 31 Dec. 2024

People with open skin lesions, inflamed acne or skin, raised scars, skin cancer, and rosacea should avoid dermaplanning. —Carley Millhone, Health, 27 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English enflamen, from Anglo-French enflamer, from Latin inflammare, from in- + flamma flame

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Kids Definition

inflame

verb

in·​flame in-ˈflām 

inflamed; inflaming

1

: to set on fire : kindle

2

: to excite to too much action or feeling

especially : to make angry

3

: to cause to redden or grow hot from anger or excitement

4

: to cause inflammation in (bodily tissue)

5

: to become affected with inflammation

Medical Definition

inflame

verb

in·​flame in-ˈflām 

inflamed; inflaming

transitive verb

: to cause inflammation in (bodily tissue)

inflame the sinuses

intransitive verb

: to become affected with inflammation