inflammatory

adjective

in·​flam·​ma·​to·​ry in-ˈfla-mə-ˌtȯr-ē How to pronounce inflammatory (audio)
1
: tending to excite anger, disorder, or tumult : seditious
2
: tending to inflame or excite the senses
3
: accompanied by or tending to cause inflammation
inflammatorily adverb

Examples of inflammatory in a Sentence

She had an acute inflammatory reaction to the drug. He incited the mob with an inflammatory speech.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Inflammation: Chronic inflammatory conditions can affect how your body uses or stores iron, leading to low circulating ferritin levels. Lindsay Curtis, Health, 5 Nov. 2024 While these are currently used to treat inflammatory disorders, one was evaluated as a treatment for atherosclerosis – and may have incidentally provided evidence to back up its use in reducing heart scarring. Michael Irving, New Atlas, 4 Nov. 2024 Three weeks before the general election, the political climate is murky and filled with more and more inflammatory rhetoric. Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 4 Nov. 2024 Battle for Arizona:A split state, a fierce race: Arizona voters must choose between 2 visions of America More important issues on Arizona ballot Arizona voters can decide some of the nation’s most inflammatory political issues on Tuesday's ballot. Catherine Reagor, The Arizona Republic, 4 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for inflammatory 

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1711, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of inflammatory was circa 1711

Dictionary Entries Near inflammatory

Cite this Entry

“Inflammatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inflammatory. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

inflammatory

adjective
in·​flam·​ma·​to·​ry in-ˈflam-ə-ˌtōr-ē How to pronounce inflammatory (audio)
-ˌtȯr-
1
: stirring up anger, disorder, or rebellion
inflammatory speeches
2
: causing or accompanied by inflammation
inflammatory diseases

Medical Definition

inflammatory

adjective
in·​flam·​ma·​to·​ry in-ˈflam-ə-ˌtōr-ē, -ˌtȯr- How to pronounce inflammatory (audio)
: accompanied by or tending to cause inflammation
inflammatory diseases

Legal Definition

inflammatory

noun
in·​flam·​ma·​to·​ry
in-ˈfla-mə-ˌtōr-ē
: tending to cause anger, animosity, or indignation
the use of an alias by a defendant is…almost always inflammatoryF. D. Doucette

Note: Evidence, and especially photographic evidence, may be deemed inadmissible if its inflammatory nature seriously outweighs its probative value or relevance. The mere fact that evidence is graphic or gruesome, however, is not enough to render it inadmissible.

More from Merriam-Webster on inflammatory

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