adjective / noun
incendiary
in-SEN-dee-air-ee/ɪnˈsendieri/
Intended to start destructive fires.
The museum displays an incendiary bomb designed to set buildings ablaze.
Etymology
The fire noun underlies the literal meaning of causing fires. Figuratively, the same image treats passions or political conflict as something that can be set ablaze.
In context
people who are itching for a some kind of Civil War I mean I I don't think I'm being incendiary when I say that
More examples
- Investigators found an incendiary device near the warehouse.
- The attack used incendiaries to burn the supply depot.
- Incendiary weapons can start fires far beyond their intended targets.
Forms
incendiary · incendiaries
Similar words
- fire-starting
- Broader term that also covers tools for lighting harmless fires.