variants
or less commonly enflame
inflamed also enflamed; inflaming also enflaming
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)
1
: to burst into flame
2
: to become excited or angered
3
: to become affected with inflammation
inflamer
noun
Synonyms
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
With frozen shoulder, this capsule first becomes inflamed and thickened, which leads to stiffness and pain.
—
Amy Norton, SELF, 29 Jan. 2025
About 140 law enforcement officers were injured during the riot, which had been inflamed in large part by Trump’s false claims of election fraud.
—Niall Stanage, The Hill, 23 Jan. 2025
Diverticulitis occurs when small pouches in the wall of the colon become inflamed, causing abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, constipation, cramping or fever.
—Alice Callahan, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2025
The horrific scenes of death, destruction, and starvation coming out of Gaza over the last 15 months have inflamed public opinion across the Arab and Muslim worlds and shredded Israeli and U.S. credibility across the global South.
—Khaled Elgindy, Foreign Affairs, 22 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for inflame 
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Amy Norton, SELF, 29 Jan. 2025
About 140 law enforcement officers were injured during the riot, which had been inflamed in large part by Trump’s false claims of election fraud.
—Niall Stanage, The Hill, 23 Jan. 2025
Diverticulitis occurs when small pouches in the wall of the colon become inflamed, causing abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, constipation, cramping or fever.
—Alice Callahan, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2025
The horrific scenes of death, destruction, and starvation coming out of Gaza over the last 15 months have inflamed public opinion across the Arab and Muslim worlds and shredded Israeli and U.S. credibility across the global South.
—Khaled Elgindy, Foreign Affairs, 22 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for inflame
Articles Related to inflame
Dictionary Entries Near inflame
Cite this Entry
“Inflame.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inflame. Accessed 4 Feb. 2025.
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Medical Definition
inflame
verb
in·flame
in-ˈflām 
inflamed; inflaming
: to cause inflammation in (bodily tissue)
inflame the sinuses
: to become affected with inflammation
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