Incendiary: meaning, definitions and examples
🔥
incendiary
[ ɪnˈsɛndɪˌɛri ]
political
Tending to stir up conflict; provocative.
Synonyms
inflaming, inflammatory, provocative.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
Word | Description / Examples |
---|---|
incendiary |
This word is often used to describe something that is intended to cause fire or great excitement and disturbance. It can describe both physical objects, like weapons or devices that start fires, or speech/acts that incite strong emotions.
|
inflammatory |
This term is typically applied to speech, writing, or actions that are intended to arouse anger, hostility, or violence. It is often used in a political or social context and has a negative connotation.
|
inflaming |
Used when describing words or actions that are meant to provoke a strong emotional reaction, especially anger or violence. It often carries a negative connotation.
|
provocative |
Describes something that intentionally triggers strong emotions such as excitement, anger, or thought. It is often used in art, fashion, and media to describe material that challenges norms or elicits strong reactions.
|
Examples of usage
- The politician's incendiary remarks sparked a heated debate.
- His incendiary speech caused outrage among the opposition.
weapon
A bomb or device designed to cause fires.
Synonyms
firebomb, inflammable device.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
Word | Description / Examples |
---|---|
incendiary |
Used to describe something or someone that causes fires or stirs up conflict. Often used in a metaphorical sense to describe speech or actions.
|
firebomb |
Specifically refers to a weapon designed to cause fires, typically used in acts of terrorism or war. It has a negative connotation.
|
inflammable device |
Refers to an object that can easily catch fire and is designed to do so. Can be used in technical or formal descriptions.
|
Examples of usage
- The incendiary exploded, setting the building ablaze.
- The military used incendiaries to destroy enemy infrastructure.
literary
Of or involving arson; designed to cause fires.
Synonyms
arsonous, fire-raising.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
Word | Description / Examples |
---|---|
incendiary |
This word is often used to describe something that is designed to cause fires or can incite strong emotions or actions. It can be used in both literal and metaphorical ways.
|
arsonous |
This term is generally used in legal or formal contexts to describe actions related to arson, the criminal act of deliberately setting fire to property.
|
fire-raising |
This is a less common term, more frequently used in British English, and it describes the act of deliberately starting a fire. It is similar to 'arsonous' but slightly less formal.
|
Examples of usage
- The incendiary plot of the novel kept readers on edge.
- The character's incendiary actions led to a dramatic climax.
Translations
Translations of the word "incendiary" in other languages:
🇵🇹 incendiário
🇮🇳 आग लगाने वाला
🇩🇪 brandstiftend
🇮🇩 pembakar
🇺🇦 підпалювальний
🇵🇱 podpalający
🇯🇵 放火の
🇫🇷 incendiaire
🇪🇸 incendiario
🇹🇷 yangın çıkarıcı
🇰🇷 방화의
🇸🇦 حارق
🇨🇿 zapalovací
🇸🇰 zápalný
🇨🇳 纵火的
🇸🇮 vnetljiv
🇮🇸 eldfimt
🇰🇿 өрт қоюшы
🇬🇪 დამწვავი
🇦🇿 yanğın çıxarıcı
🇲🇽 incendiario
Etymology
The word 'incendiary' originated in the late 16th century, deriving from the Latin word 'incendiarius,' meaning 'setting on fire.' It has been used to describe both literal and figurative concepts related to causing fires or intense reactions. Over time, 'incendiary' has evolved to encompass various contexts, from political provocations to explosive devices. Its versatile nature has made it a powerful word in describing actions or statements that ignite controversy or conflict.
Word Frequency Rank
Positioned at #20,431, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.
- ...
- 20428 nebulous
- 20429 peal
- 20430 priory
- 20431 incendiary
- 20432 stereotyping
- 20433 jubilee
- 20434 intelligibility
- ...