
Inflame
Emotionally Charged
Used to describe actions or words likely to provoke a strong emotional response.

Politicians often use rhetoric to inflame public sentiment.
Negative Connotations
Mostly carries a negative sense, suggesting the arousal of negative feelings.

The column's harsh criticism served to inflame the hostility between the two groups.
Intensity Matter
Implies an increase in the intensity of existing emotions, not the creation of new ones.

His dismissive comments only served to inflame their existing anger.
Compare with
AggravateExacerbateInciteInfuriateIrritateKindleProvokeStir up
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