to enflame

Examples

• All

• The teacher might have the students focus on the loading of the language used and how this might further enflame those "rebellious subjects."

  Academic text (1990)

• His answering growl enflamed her.

  Fiction book (1995)

• The map that could lose us lshtar and enflame the whole Middle East.

  Ishtar (1987)

• Oh, you mean, the map that could cost us lshtar and enflame the Middle East?

  Ishtar (1987)

• We're two archaeologists who found a map which, if it is authenticated, could start a holy war that would enflame the entire Middle East.

  Ishtar (1987)

• The United States is trying to reduce the negative consequences of drone strikes, in FATA in particular, in order to minimize the chances of enflaming public sentiment.

  Academic text (2014)

• Government attempts to lay blame on the boys, Sarkozy's infamous slurs, and the explosion of a tear gas grenade in a mosque enflamed the situation.

  Academic text (2006)

• The politician's speech seemed to enflame the crowd, igniting their passion for change.

• The controversial article will likely enflame tensions between the two communities.

• Her dramatic performance is sure to enflame the audience's excitement for the upcoming show.

Synonyms

E

to excite

vsto enflame

331 2.7

To make someone feel very happy, interested, or eager

adds a greater chance of provoking anger as well as enthusiasm

O

to outrage

vsto enflame

143 3.9

Make people feel very angry and shocked

focuses more on growing emotional intensity, not only moral disgust

S

to stir

vsto enflame

131 3.7

To make someone feel a strong emotion

leans more toward intensifying anger or excitement rather than neutral stirring

P

to provoke

vsto enflame

115 3.7

Cause a reaction or feeling

is similar but emphasises raising emotional intensity rather than mere triggering

A

to anger

vsto enflame

114 1.0

To make someone very upset or annoyed

is broader, increasing strong negative feelings and other emotions like excitement

I

to intensify

vsto enflame

110 4.0

Make something stronger or more intense

specifically targets emotional intensity, especially anger or excitement

H

to heighten

vsto enflame

76 4.1

To make a feeling, effect or situation stronger

is focused particularly on increasing emotions like anger or excitement

F

to fire up

vsto enflame

• Informal

70 4.1

Make people feel excited and ready to act

stresses increased anger as well as excitement, not only enthusiasm

E

to exacerbate

vsto enflame

69 8.0

To make a problem or feeling worse

targets emotions specifically, not only problems or general severity

E

to enrage

vsto enflame

68 3.7

To make someone very angry

is less narrowly about extreme anger and covers excitement too

A

to arouse

vsto enflame

57 4.1

Cause a feeling or strong reaction in people

is broader and more intense, often increasing anger or excitement

H

to heat up

vsto enflame

57 3.4

To become more intense or make a situation more intense

centres more on emotions like anger and excitement rather than general activity

S

to stir up

vsto enflame

48 4.8

To make people feel strong emotions like anger or fear

may be deliberate or accidental while still raising anger or excitement

I

to ignite

vsto enflame

47 4.4

To cause strong feelings in someone

is similar but covers both anger and excitement, not only passion

I

to infuriate

vsto enflame

46 5.0

Make someone very angry

is broader in effect, raising both anger and excitement rather than only fury

A

to agitate

vsto enflame

42 4.8

To make people feel strongly excited or upset

tends to push emotions higher, especially anger or strong excitement

I

to inflame

vsto enflame

31 5.8

To make people's feelings stronger, especially anger or hate

focuses on intensifying emotions both angry and excited rather than only negative

E

to electrify

vsto enflame

14 4.1

To make people feel very excited and want to act

also increases anger as well as excitement, rather than only enthusiasm

F

to fan the flames

vsto enflame

• Informal

8 7.2

To make an argument or feeling worse by encouraging it

focuses specifically on heightening emotions such as anger or excitement

A

to add fuel to the fire

vsto enflame

• Informal

7 5.9

To make a bad situation worse by saying or doing something that makes people angrier

is mainly about intensifying emotions rather than worsening practical problems

F

to fan

vsto enflame

7 5.9

To make a feeling like anger or hate grow stronger

is similar but also applies to increasing excitement, not only negativity

E

to enkindle

vsto enflame

• Archaic

1 9.2

To make someone feel a strong emotion

carries the same arousal but with stronger anger or excitement emphasis

S

to stir someone's blood

vsto enflame

6.0

To make someone feel strong excitement or deep emotion

includes strong anger as well as excitement rather than only excitement

Antonyms

C

to calm

962 1.0

Make a person or animal less upset

S

to soothe

63 3.4

To make someone feel calmer or reduce their pain

D

to dampen

16 4.4

Make something less strong or noticeable, for example sound and feeling

How Intense

to enrage

68 3.7

to incite

• NSFW

72 7.7

to enflame

6.4

to stir

131 3.7

to arouse

57 4.1

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology