Word: Incendiary
Part of Speech: Adjective and noun
Basic Explanation:
The word "incendiary" describes something that can easily catch fire or cause a fire. It can also refer to actions or things that provoke strong feelings or rebellion.
Usage Instructions:
As an Adjective: Use "incendiary" when describing something that can start a fire or is meant to cause trouble.
As a Noun: Use "incendiary" to refer to a type of bomb designed to start fires or a person who deliberately sets fires.
Examples:
Adjective: "The dry grass made the area very incendiary, especially with the hot sun shining down."
Noun: "The police arrested an incendiary who was caught setting fire to an abandoned building."
Advanced Usage:
In discussions about protests or political movements, "incendiary" may describe speeches or actions that stir up strong emotions or encourage people to take drastic actions.
In a legal context, "incendiary" can refer to materials or devices that are meant to cause destruction.
Word Variants:
Different Meanings:
Literal Meaning: Referring to something that can catch fire easily (e.g., "The incendiary materials were stored improperly.")
Figurative Meaning: Describing something that provokes anger or rebellion (e.g., "His incendiary remarks led to a heated debate.")
Synonyms:
Adjective: Flammable, combustible, inflammatory
Noun: Arsonist (for the person), firebomb (for the device)
Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:
While "incendiary" does not have specific idioms or phrasal verbs associated with it, you can think of phrases like “set the world on fire” to describe someone who is very passionate and causes a lot of excitement, similar to how something incendiary can cause a strong reaction.
Summary:
"Incendiary" is a versatile word that can describe anything from flammable materials to provocative actions.