inflame
in-FLAYM
/ɪnˈfleɪm/
To provoke or intensify strong feelings (especially anger) in a person or group; or to cause physical inflammation.
Carries a strong metaphor of fire—suggesting that the situation is becoming 'hot' or 'burning' out of control.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'inflammare', meaning 'to set on fire'. In the Middle Ages, it was used both for literal fires and for the 'heat' of a fever. By the 16th century, it was commonly used to describe setting 'fire' to people's emotions.
Word relationships
- incite: Incite specifically means to encourage people to act violently or illegally, while inflame refers to the heating up of emotions.
- quell: Quell means to put an end to something, typically by force, or to suppress a feeling.
- extinguish: Extinguish means to put out a fire or end a feeling completely.
Commonly confused with
- enrage: Enrage means to make someone extremely angry; inflame can apply to a whole crowd or a general atmosphere of tension.
Word family
- inflammation (noun): A physical condition of redness and swelling, or the act of arousing strong feelings.
- inflammatory (adjective): Intended to cause anger or physical inflammation.
Collocations
- inflame tensions
- inflame passions
- inflame the situation
Idioms & expressions
- add fuel to the fire
Example sentences
- "The candidate's controversial remarks were designed to inflame the passions of his supporters." Political rhetoric
- "It is not the business of a government to inflame the passions of the people." Historical citation
Memory hook
Think of 'in-flame'. You are putting someone's emotions 'in flames'. Inflame: Set the mood on fire.
When not to use
Avoid using for mild increases in intensity; it implies a passionate or violent surge.
Fun facts
- The word 'flammable' and 'inflammable' actually mean the same thing, which has caused much confusion in fire safety.
Also appears in
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