inferno

noun

in·​fer·​no in-ˈfər-(ˌ)nō 

plural infernos

: a place or a state that resembles or suggests hell

the inferno of war

also : an intense fire : conflagration

a raging inferno

Synonyms

• conflagration
• fire
• holocaust

Examples of inferno in a Sentence

By the time help arrived, the fire had grown to a raging inferno.

the intense heat of the raging inferno repeatedly drove back the firefighters

Recent Examples on the Web

The inferno has scorched dozens of square miles, and maps from CBS News show how its size compares to those of major U.S. cities. —Alex Sundby, CBS News, 10 Jan. 2025

Firefighters are facing fierce hurricane-force winds while desperately trying to contain the inferno. —David Caraccio, Sacramento Bee, 9 Jan. 2025

As infernos burn across Los Angeles County, torching at least 28,000 acres, analysts at Accuweather estimate losses could reach $52 to $57 billion. —Alana Semuels, TIME, 9 Jan. 2025

The Pacific Palisades inferno began as a brush fire around 10:30 a.m. —Billie Schwab Dunn, Newsweek, 8 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Italian, hell, from Late Latin infernus

First Known Use

1834, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

inferno

noun

in·​fer·​no in-ˈfər-nō 

plural infernos

: a place or state that resembles or suggests hell especially in great heat or raging fire

Etymology

from Italian inferno "underworld, hell," from Latin infernus (same meaning), from earlier infernus (adjective) "lying beneath, in the lower regions"