enflame

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'enflame' is correct and can be used in written English.
It means to inflame or ignite. Example: The politician's hateful speech enflamed the crowd and incited them to violence.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

Around 30 people died in the fighting.To forestall trouble ahead of December 1st, the Indonesian authorities took steps that seem just as likely in the long run to enflame local resentment.

The Economist

An open disagreement would both send all the wrong signals to Pyongyang and enflame the already pervasive anti-Americanism of many South Koreans.

The Economist

Around 30 people died in the fighting.To forestall trouble ahead of December 1st, the Indonesian authorities have taken steps that seem just as likely to enflame local resentment.

The Economist

He will presumably want to reassure Mr Bush on this count, partly because an open disagreement would enflame the already pervasive anti-Americanism of many South Koreans.

The Economist

Its use in Guantánamo is likely to further enflame anti-American sentiment among Muslims; on the other hand, it may be preferable to a succession of deaths in Guantánamo.

The Economist

It seemed to me that he was doing the one thing that no one else, in those years, had the courage to do: drill through complacency and denial to hit at the nerve of our pain and fear, to enflame us into action.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

An open disagreement would have both sent all the wrong signals to Pyongyang and enflamed the already pervasive anti-Americanism of many South Koreans.

The Economist

B.J. Habibie, the president at the time of the East Timor breakaway, preserved the policy of military repression that had enflamed separatist feelings in both provinces in the first place.

The Economist

That is why we feel a visceral duty to transmit to our fellow men the memory of what we have endured in body and soul; to alert our children that the fanaticism and violence that is spreading again in our newly enflamed world could destroy their universe as it has once destroyed mine.

The New York Times

Ecumenism was enflamed in the hearts of 19th-century Christians and in the next century shaped the churches as never before.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Pan-Scandinavianism, also called Scandinavianism, or Scandinavism, an unsuccessful 19th-century movement for Scandinavian unity that enflamed passions during the Schleswig-Holstein crises.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "enflame" to convey a sense of intensifying strong emotions or situations, often with negative connotations like anger or resentment. This word adds a dramatic effect to your writing.

Common error

While "enflame" can be effective, avoid using it excessively in formal or academic writing where a more neutral term like "intensify" or "aggravate" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "enflame" is as a transitive verb. It describes the act of intensifying a feeling, situation, or physical state. Ludwig AI confirms this with examples showing how "enflame" acts upon an object, such as "enflame local resentment".

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Encyclopedias

15%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the word "enflame" functions as a transitive verb meaning to intensify a feeling or situation, frequently with negative implications. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and usage. It is most commonly found in News & Media, encyclopedias and science sources. While grammatically sound, "enflame" is less frequent than synonyms like "inflame", "incite", or "provoke", and may be too strong for formal writing. When seeking to convey escalation in an emotionally charged scenario, "enflame" effectively adds dramatic emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

inflame

Synonymous, serving as a direct alternative.

incite

Focuses on provoking action or strong feelings, often in a negative context.

provoke

Focuses on deliberately eliciting a reaction or feeling.

ignite

Emphasizes setting something on fire, either literally or metaphorically.

arouse

Highlights stirring up emotions or feelings, especially passion or excitement.

stir up

Suggests causing trouble or excitement, often unintentionally.

exacerbate

Focuses on making a situation or feeling worse.

aggravate

Similar to exacerbate, but can also refer to physical irritations.

worsen

A general term for making something worse.

heighten

Emphasizes increasing the intensity of something.

FAQs

How can I use "enflame" in a sentence?

You can use "enflame" to describe the intensification of feelings or situations, such as "The politician's speech enflamed the crowd's anger", indicating a significant increase in their rage.

What words can I use instead of "enflame"?

Alternatives to "enflame" include "inflame", "incite", or "provoke", each carrying slightly different connotations of stirring up emotions or actions.

Is it correct to use "enflame" in formal writing?

While "enflame" is grammatically correct, its intensity might make it less suitable for highly formal or academic contexts, where more neutral terms like "intensify" or "aggravate" might be preferable.

What is the difference between "enflame" and "inflame"?

"Enflame" and "inflame" are often used interchangeably, both meaning to ignite or intensify. However, "enflame" can sometimes carry a stronger connotation of emotional or figurative intensity.