incendiary
/in'sendjəri/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Adjective:
- Designed to cause fires: Describes a substance, device, or weapon that is capable of starting fires or burning readily.
- Provoking conflict or unrest: Describes speech, writing, or actions that are intended to arouse strong anger, violence, or rebellion.
Noun:
- A fire-starting bomb: A bomb designed to cause destruction by starting fires, especially effective against flammable targets.
- A person who commits arson: A criminal who deliberately and illegally sets fire to property.
- A person who provokes unrest: Someone who stirs up trouble, conflict, or rebellion.
Usage Examples
Adjective:
- The warehouse was destroyed by an incendiary device. (Designed to cause fires)
- The politician was accused of making incendiary remarks that divided the community. (Provoking conflict)
Noun:
- The air raid dropped high explosives followed by incendiaries. (A fire-starting bomb)
- The police arrested the incendiary responsible for the factory fire. (A person who commits arson)
- He was seen as a dangerous incendiary who radicalized young followers. (A person who provokes unrest)
Advanced Usage
- Figurative Use: The adjective is often used figuratively to describe language or ideas that are explosively controversial or emotionally charged.
- The journalist's incendiary article sparked a national debate.
Variants and Related Words
- Incendiarism (n): The act of maliciously setting fires; arson.
- Incendivity (n): The quality of being incendiary, especially the capacity to catch fire.
Synonyms
- Adjective (causing fire): Combustible, flammable, inflammatory.
- Adjective (provoking unrest): Provocative, inflammatory, seditious, rabble-rousing.
- Noun (bomb): Firebomb.
- Noun (person): Arsonist, firebug (informal), agitator, instigator.
Related Phrases
- Incendiary language/rhetoric: Speech or writing deliberately intended to provoke strong public anger or violence.
- The leader's incendiary rhetoric was condemned by international observers.
- Incendiary device: A general term for any weapon or object made to start fires.
- The package was found to contain a simple incendiary device.
Adjective
- capable of catching fire spontaneously or causing fires or burning readily
- an incendiary agent
- incendiary bombs
- arousing to action or rebellion
- involving deliberate burning of property
- an incendiary fire
Noun
- a bomb that is designed to start fires; is most effective against flammable targets (such as fuel)
- a criminal who illegally sets fire to property