inflame
/ɪnˈfleɪm
/verb [with object]
1Provoke or intensify (strong feelings, especially anger) in someone: high fines further inflamed public feelings...
- The split that is inflaming the public mood is the one between insiders and outsiders.
- Deterrence and punishment are not rational options, and politicians who seek to inflame public feeling in these distressing cases are being forced to recognise this.
- The fall of New Orleans in April 1862, combined with the Federal threat against Mobile, inflamed public passions.
Synonyms
incite, arouse, rouse, provoke, animate, stir up, work up, whip up, kindle, fire, ignite, touch off, foment, actuate, inspire;
stimulate, agitate, spur on
aggravate, exacerbate, intensify, worsen, make worse, compound;
add fuel to the flames, fan the flames, rub salt in the wound
enrage, incense, anger, infuriate, exasperate, madden, send into a rage, provoke, antagonize, rile, gall
informal make someone see red, make someone's blood boil, drive mad/crazy
rare empurple
red, flushed, high-coloured, burning, flaming, florid
1.1Provoke (someone) to strong feelings: her sister was inflamed with jealousy...
- He's inflamed her heart, but now he is rolling out of town.
- So that just inflamed me even further because first of all Pol will never do something like that and secondly it was definitely not anybody I knew.
- I am rarely inflamed to such an extent as I was this morning reading this news report.
1.2Make (a situation) worse: comments that inflame what is already a sensitive situation...
- Instead, the minister's comments seem to have inflamed the situation.
- Usually, outside comments just serve to inflame the situation.
- And consistent with the policies that we have upheld in relation to hostages, we don't want to inflame the situation by needless and unnecessary comment.
2Cause inflammation in (a part of the body): the finger joints were inflamed with rheumatoid arthritis (as adjective inflamed) inflamed eyes and lips...
- When part of your body is inflamed, it is red, hot and sore.
- This is caused by infected and inflamed diverticula perforating or rupturing.
- The warnings state that Vitrase should not be used to reduce the swelling of bites, stings, and infected or inflamed areas because of the possibility of spreading a localized infection.
Synonyms
swollen, puffed up;
red, reddened, raw, hot, burning, itchy, itching, chafing, smarting, stinging, angry, angry-looking;
sore, painful, tender, sensitive;
infected, festered, septic
3 literary Light up with or as if with flames: the torches inflame the night to the eastward...
- The shadow engulfed figure's face illuminated as he inflamed a lighter.
- Open your eyes, still heavy and inflamed by late night television and tears
- Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!
Origin
Middle English enflaume, inflaume, from Old French enflammer, from Latin inflammare, from in- 'into' + flamma 'flame'.