incendiary
8 synonyms for incendiary, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Designed to or capable of starting a fire.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. adjective
Designed to or capable of starting a fire.
“The building was destroyed by an incendiary device.”
How to use incendiary
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
incendiary device
incendiary comments
incendiary rhetoric
Etymology
From Latin incendiarius, "setting alight," from incendium, "a fire," ultimately from candeo, "to be hot" — the same root as "candle" and "incandescent."
Full origin of incendiary →Frequently asked questions
What does “incendiary” mean?
The word “incendiary” means designed to or capable of starting a fire. In plain terms, either literally fire-starting, or figuratively inflammatory — stirring up trouble.
How do you pronounce “incendiary”?
“Incendiary” is pronounced ihn-SEHN-dih-uhr-ee (/ɪnˈsɛn.di.ɛɹ.i/ in IPA).
How do you use “incendiary” in a sentence?
Here is “incendiary” used in a sentence: “The building was destroyed by an incendiary device.”
What part of speech is “incendiary”?
Depending on how it is used, “incendiary” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “incendiary” come from?
The word “incendiary” comes from Latin. From Latin incendiarius, "setting alight," from incendium, "a fire," ultimately from candeo, "to be hot" — the same root as "candle" and "incandescent.".
How many meanings does “incendiary” have?
“Incendiary” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: designed to or capable of starting a fire.
