incendiary

[in-sen-dee-er-ee]

adjective

1. used or adapted for setting property on fire.

   incendiary bombs.

2. of or relating to the criminal setting on fire of property.

3. tending to arouse strife, sedition, etc.; inflammatory.

   incendiary speeches.

4. tending to inflame the senses.

   an incendiary extravaganza of music and dance.

noun

plural

incendiaries 

1. a person who deliberately sets fire to buildings or other property, as an arsonist.

2. Military.,  a shell, bomb, or grenade containing napalm, thermite, or some other substance that burns with an intense heat.

3. a person who stirs up strife, sedition, etc.; an agitator.

incendiary

/ ɪnˈsɛndɪərɪ /

adjective

1. of or relating to the illegal burning of property, goods, etc

2. tending to create strife, violence, etc; inflammatory

3. (of a substance) capable of catching fire, causing fires, or burning readily

noun

1. a person who illegally sets fire to property, goods, etc; arsonist

2. (esp formerly) a person who stirs up civil strife, violence, etc, for political reasons; agitator

3. Also called: incendiary bomb. a bomb that is designed to start fires

4. an incendiary substance, such as phosphorus

Word History and Origins

Origin of incendiary¹

1600–10; < Latin incendiārius, equivalent to incendi ( um ) a fire ( incend ( ere ) to kindle ( in- in- ² + -cendere, transitive v. from base of candēre to shine, be hot; candent, candid, candor ) + -ium -ium ) + -ārius -ary

Word History and Origins

Origin of incendiary¹

C17: from Latin incendiārius setting alight, from incendium fire, from incendere to kindle

Example Sentences

First responders said Israeli drones also dropped incendiary bombs in the vicinity of a clinic overnight in the northern Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood, where troops and tanks were reportedly advancing.

From BBC

She said the family had received political flyers through the door that talked about immigration in an "incendiary" way.

From BBC

Sturgeon, the MSP for Glasgow Southside, had previously told the BBC's Newscast podcast that the Harry Potter author had every right to disagree with her but that the T-shirt "seemed to me quite incendiary".

From BBC

A search warrant, issued on Friday and reviewed by The Times on Wednesday, authorized investigators to search the storage units inside the complex for incendiary devices, accelerants, surveillance footage, explosives and other hazardous materials.

From Los Angeles Times

Advocates and California politicians also argued that the heavy-handed spectacle would be incendiary, potentially putting both the troops and protesters at risk.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• inflammatory 
• provocative 
• subversive 
• treacherous