inflame
in-FLAYM
/ɪnˈfleɪm/
To provoke or intensify strong feelings (such as anger) in someone; to make a situation more heated or violent.
Inflame suggests turning a 'cool' situation into a 'hot' one. It often refers to passions, tempers, or physical swelling.
The story behind the word. From 'in-' (into) + 'flamma' (flame). It has always carried the dual meaning of literal fire and the metaphorical fire of the human spirit or body.
Word relationships
- exacerbate: Exacerbate means to make a situation worse; inflame specifically suggests making it more 'heated' or emotional.
- soothe: Soothe means to calm or reduce the intensity of a feeling or physical condition.
Commonly confused with
- enflame: Enflame is an older spelling of inflame; they mean the same thing, but 'inflame' is the standard modern usage.
Word family
- inflammation (noun): A physical condition of swelling and heat, or the act of inflaming emotions.
- inflammatory (adjective): Intended to cause anger or physical inflammation.
Collocations
- inflame passions
- inflame the situation
- inflame tensions
Idioms & expressions
- add fuel to the flames
Example sentences
- "His rhetoric served only to inflame the passions of the already angry crowd." Describing the effect of a speech.
- "The infection will inflame the joint, causing redness and pain." Medical context.
Memory hook
Inflame = In + Flame. You are putting a flame into the situation. Inflame: Setting feelings on fire.
When not to use
Avoid using it for mild annoyance. Inflame is for high-intensity emotions.
Fun facts
- The word 'inflammable' actually means the same thing as 'flammable' (easily set on fire), which has caused many dangerous misunderstandings over the years.
Also appears in
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