Inflammatory — In*flam ma*to*ry, a. [Cf. F. inflammatoire.] 1. Tending to inflame, kindle, or irritate. [1913 Webster] 2. Tending to excite anger, animosity, tumult, or sedition; seditious; as, inflammatory libels, writings, speeches, or publications. Burke.… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
inflammatory — [in flam′ə tôr΄ē] adj. [< L inflammatus, pp. of inflammare (see IN 1 & FLAME) + ORY] 1. rousing or likely to rouse excitement, anger, violence, rioting, etc. [an inflammatory speech] 2. Med. of, caused by, or characterized by inflammation … English World dictionary
inflammatory — 1680s (n.), from L. inflammat , pp. stem of inflammare (see INFLAME (Cf. inflame)) + ORY (Cf. ory). As an adjective, tending to rouse passions or desires, 1711; from 1732 in pathology … Etymology dictionary
inflammatory — *combustible, inflammable, flammable, incendiary Analogous words: inciting, instigating (see INCITE): stimulating, exciting (see PROVOKE): sensitive, susceptible (see LIABLE) … New Dictionary of Synonyms
inflammatory — [adj] instigative, angering anarchic, demagogic, exciting, explosive, fiery, incendiary, incitive, inflaming, insurgent, intemperate, provocative, rabble rousing*, rabid, rebellious, revolutionary, riotous, seditionary, seditious; concepts… … New thesaurus
inflammatory — ► ADJECTIVE 1) relating to or causing inflammation. 2) arousing or intended to arouse angry or violent feelings … English terms dictionary
inflammatory — [[t]ɪnflæ̱mətəri, AM tɔːri[/t]] 1) ADJ GRADED (disapproval) If you accuse someone of saying or doing inflammatory things, you mean that what they say or do is likely to make people react very angrily. ...nationalist policies that are too drastic… … English dictionary
inflammatory — in|flam|ma|to|ry [ınˈflæmətəri US to:ri] adj 1.) an inflammatory speech, piece of writing etc is likely to make people feel angry ▪ inflammatory remarks 2.) technical an inflammatory disease or medical condition causes inflammation ▪ inflammatory … Dictionary of contemporary English
inflammatory — adjective 1 an inflammatory speech, piece of writing etc is likely to make people feel angry: His inflammatory remarks about the homeless were seized on by the press. 2 technical an inflammatory disease, condition etc causes inflammation … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
inflammatory — inflammable, inflammatory Inflammable has the same meaning, i.e. ‘easily set on fire’, as flammable, which is now preferred in official advisory contexts: see flammable. Inflammatory means ‘tending to cause inflammation (of the body)’ and… … Modern English usage
