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
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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 Cruz’s attorneys have argued that prosecutors have used evidence not just to prove their case, but to inflame the jurors’ passions. 
Terry Spencer, Sun Sentinel, 4 Aug. 2022 Cruz's attorneys have argued that prosecutors have used evidence not just to prove their case, but to inflame the jurors' passions. CBS News, 4 Aug. 2022 Cruz’s attorneys have argued that prosecutors have used evidence not just to prove their case, but to inflame the jurors’ passions. Terry Spencer, USA TODAY, 4 Aug. 2022 In dozens of countries, claims to foreign land could be used to inflame support for war. Leif Wenar, WSJ, 2 May 2022 The populist leader has helped inflame tensions in Iraq in recent weeks by commanding thousands of followers to storm and occupy parliament, preventing the formation of a government nearly 10 months after elections. Washington Post, 23 Aug. 2022 His determination to inflame conspiracy theories and some of the most violent fringe elements in American life led to the catastrophe of January 6, 2021, the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. The New Yorker, 17 July 2022 Imagine a style of music that combines funk, jazz, R&B, soul — a fusion that becomes powerful enough to create a political movement and inflame a nation’s authoritarian leadership. Brian Bluesky, The Arizona Republic, 5 July 2022 Her death helped to inflame already-volatile relations between Palestine and Israel. Joe Walsh, Forbes, 4 July 2022 See More
Terry Spencer, Sun Sentinel, 4 Aug. 2022 Cruz's attorneys have argued that prosecutors have used evidence not just to prove their case, but to inflame the jurors' passions. CBS News, 4 Aug. 2022 Cruz’s attorneys have argued that prosecutors have used evidence not just to prove their case, but to inflame the jurors’ passions. Terry Spencer, USA TODAY, 4 Aug. 2022 In dozens of countries, claims to foreign land could be used to inflame support for war. Leif Wenar, WSJ, 2 May 2022 The populist leader has helped inflame tensions in Iraq in recent weeks by commanding thousands of followers to storm and occupy parliament, preventing the formation of a government nearly 10 months after elections. Washington Post, 23 Aug. 2022 His determination to inflame conspiracy theories and some of the most violent fringe elements in American life led to the catastrophe of January 6, 2021, the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. The New Yorker, 17 July 2022 Imagine a style of music that combines funk, jazz, R&B, soul — a fusion that becomes powerful enough to create a political movement and inflame a nation’s authoritarian leadership. Brian Bluesky, The Arizona Republic, 5 July 2022 Her death helped to inflame already-volatile relations between Palestine and Israel. Joe Walsh, Forbes, 4 July 2022 See More 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 make more active, excited, angry, or violent
His words inflamed the crowd.
2
: to cause to redden or grow hot (as from anger)
3
: to make or become sore, red, and swollen The chemical can inflame the skin.
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
inflaming 1 of 2
adjective
variants also enflaming
as in riling
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- riling
- angering
- rankling
- outraging
- enraging
- hostile
- incensing
- maddening
- upsetting
- infuriating
- aggravating
- distressing
- intimidating
- irritating
- forbidding
- perturbing
- disturbing
- vexing
- exasperating
- annoying
- tragic
- disheartening
- peeving
- depressing
- regrettable
- displeasing
- dolorous
- deplorable
- lachrymose
- sorrowful
- lugubrious
- unhappy
- lamentable
- doleful
- joyless
- irksome
- gloomy
- dismal
- mournful
- heartrending
- stale
- tedious
- dreary
- sad
- boring
- heartbreaking
- hateful
- dissatisfying
- odious
- tragical
- insipid
- detestable
- commonplace
- abhorrent
- dull
- flat
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- congenial
- pleasing
- gratifying
- agreeable
- felicitous
- satisfying
- sweet
- pretty
- pleasant
- good
- palatable
- delectable
- heavenly
- delightful
- delicious
- savory
- jolly
- tasty
- dreamy
- grateful
- pleasurable
- enjoyable
- luscious
- blest
- darling
- tempting
- inviting
- nice
- welcome
- desirable
- alluring
- blessed
- dulcet
- attractive
- savoury
- enviable
- charming
- delightsome
- enchanting
- fascinating
- relishable
inflaming
2 of 2verb
variants also enflaming
1
as in angering
to make angry the newspaper editorial inflamed her enough to inspire her to dash off a letter to the editor Synonyms & Similar Words
- angering
- infuriating
- enraging
- irritating
- riling
- outraging
- incensing
- offending
- annoying
- rankling
- roiling
- provoking
- maddening
- iring
- madding
- aggravating
- antagonizing
- affronting
- ticking off
- steaming up
- exasperating
- nettling
- piquing
- vexing
- embittering
- ruffling
- crossing
- huffing
- getting one's goat
- rubbing the wrong way
- peeving
- miffing
- getting
- putting out
- envenoming
- burning (up)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- relieving
- delighting
- pleasing
- allaying
- gratifying
- soothing
- pacifying
- appeasing
- consoling
- comforting
- assuaging
- placating
- quieting
- conciliating
- calming
- settling
- mollifying
- disarming
- charming
- captivating
- bewitching
- lulling
- enchanting
- beguiling
2
as in igniting
to set (something) on fire a carelessly tossed cigarette inflamed the papers in the trash can Synonyms & Similar Words
- igniting
- torching
- burning
- lighting
- firing
- kindling
- enkindling
- charring
- baking
- cremating
- stoking
- searing
- scorching
- broiling
- cooking
- incinerating
- immolating
- irradiating
- radiating
- rekindling
- illuminating
- lightening
- illumining
- brightening
- reigniting
- ashing
- scalding
- deflagrating
- scathing
- setting off
- banking
- frizzling
- relighting
- kilning
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- extinguishing
- quenching
- choking
- smothering
- suffocating
- dousing
- obscuring
- darkening
- stamping (out)
- blackening
- dulling
- snuffing (out)
- putting out
- dimming
- dowsing