Incendiary
/ɪnˈsɛn.diˌɛri/
adjectivenounC1
Definition
Incendiary means able to start fire or cause burning. It can also describe words or actions that make people very angry or excited, often causing conflict or trouble. As a noun, an incendiary is a person or device that starts fires or creates strong arguments or problems.
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See It in Action
Causing or related to fire
- •The police found an incendiary device at the scene.
- •Incendiary bombs can cause serious damage in war.
- •The dry weather made the forest very susceptible to incendiary sparks.
Causing strong emotions or conflict
- •His incendiary speech angered many people in the crowd.
- •The article was incendiary and led to heated debates.
- •She made an incendiary comment that started an argument.
A person or thing that starts fires or trouble
- •The protest was led by an incendiary who wanted to cause chaos.
- •Authorities arrested the incendiary suspected of starting the fire.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "incendiary" like "fire" (A1 word), but not just any fire—one that starts quickly and causes big problems.
- ✓Picture a match lighting a dry forest, causing flames to spread fast and uncontrollably.
- ✓It's the feeling when someone says something that makes a group angry or fights start.
- ✓Sounds like "in-SEND-ee-airy" → Imagine sending a hot, burning message that spreads like fire.
- ✓In stories, an incendiary character might be someone who causes fights or chaos, like a troublemaker.
- ✓NOT like "warm" (pleasant heat), "incendiary" means dangerous heat or words that burn feelings.
- ✓NOT like "accidental fire," incendiary means the fire or trouble is started on purpose.
- ✓NOT like "calm" or "peaceful," incendiary causes strong, often negative reactions.
Try Other Words
- •Provocative: causing strong reactions or emotions (Use when talking about words or actions that cause anger or excitement but not physical fire)
- •Flammable: able to catch fire easily (Use when focusing only on physical ability to burn)
- •Arsonist: a person who sets fires illegally (Use when specifically meaning a criminal who starts fires)
- •Explosive: causing sudden strong reactions or physical explosions (Use when emphasizing sudden and powerful effects)
Unboxing
- •Prefix: "in-" (into, or can intensify meaning)
- •Root: "cendi" from Latin "incendere" meaning "to set on fire"
- •Suffix: "-ary" (relating to or connected with)
- •Origin: From Latin "incendiarius," meaning "causing to set on fire"
- •Historical use: Originally used for things that cause fire, later also used for words or actions that cause strong emotional reactions or conflicts
- •Modern use: Used both for physical fire-related things and for speech or behavior that causes trouble or strong feelings
Reflect & Connect
•Can words be as dangerous as physical incendiary devices? How do they affect people differently?
•When might it be useful or harmful to use incendiary language in discussions or politics?
Fill in the blanks
1.The dry forest was at risk because of the ___ device found nearby that could start a fire.
2.His ___ remarks during the meeting caused many people to feel angry and upset.
3.Unlike calm words, incendiary words often ___ strong emotions and arguments.
4.The police arrested the suspected ___ who was believed to have started several fires on purpose.
5.An incendiary comment can ___ a peaceful conversation into a heated argument very quickly.
6.The article was so ___ that it made readers ___ about the topic immediately.
7.Firefighters work hard to stop ___ fires from spreading and causing damage.