adjective
incendiary
ihn-SEHN-dih-uhr-ee
Incendiary (adjective) means Designed to or capable of starting a fire. Example: “The building was destroyed by an incendiary device.”
adjective
1
Designed to or capable of starting a fire.
"The building was destroyed by an incendiary device."
2
Deliberately provocative; likely to stir up anger, conflict, or unrest.
"His incendiary remarks about the election sparked outrage online."
noun
1
A weapon or device designed to cause fire.
"The bunker was hit with incendiaries during the raid."
How to use incendiary
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither literally fire-starting, or figuratively inflammatory — stirring up trouble.
Common pairings
incendiary device
incendiary comments
incendiary rhetoric
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Word forms
- Plural
- incendiaries
- Comparative
- more incendiary
- Superlative
- most incendiary
Fill the gap
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The building was destroyed by an _____ device.
Etymology
From Latin incendiarius, "setting alight," from incendium, "a fire," ultimately from candeo, "to be hot" — the same root as "candle" and "incandescent."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for incendiary
See all rhymes for 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.
