inferno
noun
in·fer·no
in-ˈfər-(ˌ)nō 
plural infernos
: a place or a state that resembles or suggests hell
the inferno of war
Examples of inferno in a Sentence
By the time help arrived, the fire had grown to a raging inferno.
the intense heat of the raging inferno repeatedly drove back the firefighters
Recent Examples on the Web
This inferno killed at least 12 people, both civilians and firefighters.
—
Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 1 Feb. 2025
Most of all, the recurring visions of flames and matches that flicker through the depraved fever dreams of Wild at Heart (1990), a movie in which incandescent imagery looms so large that the opening credits unfold against an inferno of Halloween-orange flames.
—Zach Schonfeld, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2025
Here's how much rain Southern California will get Rain is expected to be widespread, and reach Los Angeles, Ventura and San Diego counties, which have all been on high alert for major infernos while tamping down numerous brush fires.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY, 25 Jan. 2025
And because the sites themselves are flammable, small warheads can set off infernos.
—Maria Varenikova, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2025
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Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 1 Feb. 2025
Most of all, the recurring visions of flames and matches that flicker through the depraved fever dreams of Wild at Heart (1990), a movie in which incandescent imagery looms so large that the opening credits unfold against an inferno of Halloween-orange flames.
—Zach Schonfeld, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2025
Here's how much rain Southern California will get Rain is expected to be widespread, and reach Los Angeles, Ventura and San Diego counties, which have all been on high alert for major infernos while tamping down numerous brush fires.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY, 25 Jan. 2025
And because the sites themselves are flammable, small warheads can set off infernos.
—Maria Varenikova, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for inferno
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Dictionary Entries Near inferno
Cite this Entry
“Inferno.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inferno. Accessed 19 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
inferno
noun
in·fer·no
in-ˈfər-nō
plural infernos
: a place or state that resembles or suggests hell especially in great heat or raging fire
Etymology
from Italian inferno "underworld, hell," from Latin infernus (same meaning), from earlier infernus (adjective) "lying beneath, in the lower regions"
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