Inflame: meaning, definitions and examples

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inflame

 

[ ɪnˈfleɪm ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

to provoke

To provoke or intensify strong feelings or actions, especially anger or violence. To cause a situation to become more intense or worse. To make a physical condition worse by causing pain, swelling, or redness.

Synonyms

aggravate, irritate, provoke, worsen.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
inflame

Used when speaking about causing intense emotion, often anger or passion, and sometimes to describe the worsening of medical conditions.

  • His words managed to inflame the crowd, making them even more agitated
  • The infection in the wound began to inflame the surrounding tissue
provoke

Used in situations where someone or something is causing a reaction, especially anger or strong feelings. It has a slightly negative connotation.

  • The politician's comments were intended to provoke a strong response from the audience
  • Loud noises can sometimes provoke anxiety in pets
aggravate

Often used when talking about making a problem, injury, or situation worse. It has a slightly negative connotation.

  • Don't scratch the rash; you'll only aggravate it
  • His constant complaints only serve to aggravate the issue
worsen

Typically used in formal contexts to describe a situation or condition that is becoming worse.

  • Without proper medical care, his condition could worsen
  • The economic crisis has begun to worsen over recent months
irritate

Typically used when describing causing someone to feel annoyed or causing a physical reaction like itching or redness.

  • Her loud chewing started to irritate everyone at the table
  • The chemical can irritate the skin if not handled properly

Examples of usage

  • He tried to inflame the crowd with his speech.
  • The comments only served to inflame an already tense situation.
  • The injury was inflamed and painful.
Context #2 | Verb

to ignite

To cause a substance to catch fire or burn. To flare up suddenly or become more intense.

Synonyms

enflame, ignite, kindle.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
inflame

Used when talking about arousing strong emotions, often negative ones like anger, or medical conditions involving swelling and redness.

  • His remarks only served to inflame the debate further.
  • The wound began to inflame, causing a lot of discomfort.
ignite

Primarily used to describe setting something on fire or triggering a strong reaction, often excitement or passion.

  • A single match can ignite the entire pile of wood.
  • The coach's speech ignited the team's enthusiasm.
kindle

Commonly used to describe starting a fire gently or sparking emotions, usually positive ones like love or interest.

  • He used dry grass to kindle the campfire.
  • The teacher's passion for the subject kindled the students' interest.
enflame

A less common spelling variant of 'inflame', can also be used for arousing emotions or medical conditions, but it's rarely used in modern English.

  • Her words enflamed the crowd into a frenzy.
  • The infection will enflame the tissue.

Examples of usage

  • The sparks inflamed the dry grass.
  • The situation inflamed into a full-blown conflict.

Translations

Translations of the word "inflame" in other languages:

🇵🇹 inflamar

🇮🇳 भड़काना

🇩🇪 entzünden

🇮🇩 menyulut

🇺🇦 запалювати

🇵🇱 rozpalić

🇯🇵 燃え上がらせる (moeagaraseru)

🇫🇷 enflammer

🇪🇸 inflamar

🇹🇷 ateşlemek

🇰🇷 불붙이다

🇸🇦 يشتعل

🇨🇿 zapálit

🇸🇰 zapáliť

🇨🇳 点燃 (diǎnrán)

🇸🇮 vžgati

🇮🇸 kveikja

🇰🇿 тұтандыру

🇬🇪 აალება

🇦🇿 alışdırmaq

🇲🇽 inflamar

Etymology

The word 'inflame' originated from Middle English 'enflamen', from Old French 'enflamer', from Latin 'inflammare' meaning 'to set on fire'. The figurative sense of 'to excite, to rouse' dates back to the late 14th century.

See also: enflame, flambeau, flamboyance, flamboyant, flamelet, flamer, flames, flamethrower, flaming, flammable, inflaming, inflammable, inflammation.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #22,891, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.