inflammatory

adjective

in-ˈfla-mə-ˌtȯr-ē How to pronounce inflammatory (audio)
Definition of inflammatorynext
as in provocative
tending to excite political disorder or insurrection the restless crowd was stirred up by the inflammatory rhetoric

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of inflammatory Piker, for his part, has become a regular target for Republicans who are doing their best to make sure his inflammatory comments are tied to Democrats, in particular Michigan Senate hopeful Abdul el Sayed. — Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 24 Sep. 2026 Speaking at recent investor conferences, Gilead Sciences’ top executives have been emphatically bullish about the biotech’s years-long push to develop drugs for inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. — Adam Feuerstein, STAT, 24 Sep. 2026 Some of its members have advocated for open borders, and believe gender is a social construct, both of which have been fodder for inflammatory social media content from those seeking to discredit the philosophy. — Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 23 Sep. 2026 The group pointed to Stone’s history of inflammatory remarks about Black people. — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for inflammatory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inflammatory
  1. provocative
  2. seditious
  3. incendiary
Adjective
  • The spot urges a woman to vote for Hilton, who says its provocative humor is meant to reach Californians open to change despite his party affiliation.
    — Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026
  • The panel wrapped with a provocative audience question from an NBCUniversal exec who asked the panel what the best path forward for her company would be.
    — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of provocative
Adjective
  • Some were arrested over social media posts whose criticism of the government was alleged to be seditious.
    — Jennifer Jett, NBC news, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Its members used military formations during the January 6 attack, and the founder of the Oath Keepers was convicted of seditious conspiracy.
    — Daniel Benjamin, Foreign Affairs, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of seditious
Adjective
  • Before the streamer Hasan Piker was making headlines ahead of the Michigan Democratic Senate primary last month for his incendiary remarks, the British government barred him from entering the country to take part in a debate at the Oxford Union.
    — Roger Friedlander, Washington Post, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Nearly a decade on, the incendiary take that launched a thousand reservations remains well-warranted.
    — Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of incendiary

Browse Nearby Words

inflammations
inflammatory
inflate
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Inflammatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inflammatory. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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