ENGLISH
REFERENCE

incendiary

adj.
C1 Advanced US //ˌɪnˈsɛndiɛɹi// UK //ɪnsˈɛndjəɹi// in·cen·di·ary

adj. designed to cause fires or likely to cause strong feelings and arguments. You use this to describe a speech that makes people angry or a device that starts a fire.

adj. designed to cause fires or tending to stir up conflict and strong emotion. Often used to describe political rhetoric or military devices.


SIMPLE

The politician gave an incendiary speech that caused a protest.

CONTEXTUAL

Firefighters were called to the scene after an incendiary device was discovered in the abandoned warehouse.

COMPLEX

The journalist's incendiary remarks regarding the local government's failure to provide housing sparked a heated debate that lasted for several weeks in the national press.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English incendiarie, from Old French incendiaire, from Latin incendiārius (“setting alight”), from incendium (“destructive fire”), from incendō (“I set on fire, kindle”), from in- (“into, in, on, upon”) + candeō (“I am hot”).

Usage

Often used figuratively to describe speech, writing, or behavior that provokes a strong, angry reaction.

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