en·flame
less common spelling of inflame
1
a
: to excite to excessive or uncontrollable action or feeling
especially
: to make angry
His speech inflamed the mob.
b
: to make more active, heated, or violent : intensify
inflame the imagination
insults serving only to inflame the feud
2
: to set on fire : kindle
3
: to cause to redden or grow hot from anger or excitement
a face inflamed with passion
4
: to cause inflammation in (bodily tissue)
1
: to burst into flame
2
: to become excited or angered
3
: to become affected with inflammation
variants
or less commonly enflame
inflamed also enflamed; inflaming also enflaming
1
a
: to excite to excessive or uncontrollable action or feeling
especially
: to make angry
His speech inflamed the mob.
b
: to make more active, heated, or violent : intensify
inflame the imagination
insults serving only to inflame the feud
2
: to set on fire : kindle
3
: to cause to redden or grow hot from anger or excitement
a face inflamed with passion
4
: to cause inflammation in (bodily tissue)
1
: to burst into flame
2
: to become excited or angered
3
: to become affected with inflammation
inflamer
noun
Examples of enflame in a Sentence
Verb (2)
His angry speech inflamed the mob.
ideas that inflame the imagination
His comments have inflamed an already tense situation.
inflaming the passions of the mob
a chemical that can inflame the skin
Recent Examples on the Web
Paul Tilsley,
FOXNews.com,
12 June 2026
His advice was not taken by CPAC organizers, and such tensions were enflamed prominently.
—
Alex J. Rouhandeh,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2026
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
1 July 2026
My scalp is less dry and inflamed, and my curls are thoroughly moisturized.
—
Dana Oliver,
Parents,
30 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for enflame
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Verb
These dangerous actions only serve to further enflame tensions and further disrupt global supply chains.
—
Paul Tilsley,
FOXNews.com,
12 June 2026
His advice was not taken by CPAC organizers, and such tensions were enflamed prominently.
—
Alex J. Rouhandeh,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
The characters are all in a continual state of collision, their shifting conflicts inflamed by Coriolanus’ arrogantly uncompromising nature.
—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
1 July 2026
My scalp is less dry and inflamed, and my curls are thoroughly moisturized.
—
Dana Oliver,
Parents,
30 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for enflame
Cite this Entry
“Enflame.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enflame. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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