flammable en · ADJ
Pronunciation
- /ˈflæməbl̩/
- (Southern-England) audio
Etymology
Back-formation from inflammable, which is used to avoid confusion with non-flammable, as the prefix in- is often used to mean "un-; non-", although it was originally meant in a sense closely related to en-.
Meanings
-
Capable of burning.
flammable liquid
Near-synonym: ignitable
-
Easily set on fire.
Near-synonym: ignitable
- Easily set on fire. ▸ Subject to easy ignition and rapid flaming combustion.
-
(figuratively) Very likely to cause fighting or controversy; extremely contentious.
They could stuff their ears with cotton, but they could not, after all, fight such flammable ideas ( at least not in the public squares where Attucks's war whoops could still be heard ).
2002, Gregory Toledo, The Hanging of Old Brown, page 27:With her play Diamond Lil, she discovered a way to sneak her flammable subject matter past the censors.
2004, Elizabeth Prioleau, Seductress: Women Who Ravished the World and Their Lost Art of Love:King's words touch on a higher law of leadership, that the solution to a sensitive and highly contentious and even flammable situation often lies in doing the opposite of what is expected and even perceived as normal or 'natural'.
2015, Adriaan Groenewald, Seamless Leadership: A passion to perform in South Africa:In considering the possible commitment of U.S. forces to South Vietnam , the Joint Chiefs of Staff have reviewed the overall critical situation in Southeast Asia with particular emphasis upon the present highly flammable situation in South Vietnam.
1971, United States. Department of Defense, United States-Vietnam Relations, 1945-1967, page 42:Evelyn realized that Adam's flammable words and angry eyes were only the form of his untold pain, holding the strongest words of his heart, unspoken.
2021, Esra Gultakin, In the Shallows: Awaken Your Mind:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| most flammable | Degree=Sup | lexicographic | |
| more flammable | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic |
Antonyms
non-flammable · nonflammable · incombustible · unflammable · non-flammable · incombustible · unflammable · inflammable[contranym]]ic senses> · fireproof · fireproof · inflammable[contranym]]ic senses> · fireproof · inflammable[contranym]]ic senses> · non-flammable · uninflammable · uninflammable · noninflammable · unflammable · noninflammable · incombustible · noninflammable · nonflammable · uninflammable · nonflammable
Coordinates
Hypernyms
combustible · dangerous · hazardous · combustible · dangerous · hazardous
Relateds
flammule · flammability · inflammation · inflammatory · flammably · inflammable
Synonyms
ignitable · inflammable[contranym]]ic senses> · ignitable · inflammable[contranym]]ic senses> · combustible · inflammable[contranym]]ic senses> · ignitable
Translations (66)
no brennbar (capable of burning — see also inflammable) · de leichtentzündlich (easily set on fire) · it infiammabile (capable of burning — see also inflammable) · ca inflamable (easily set on fire) · cs hořlavý (easily set on fire) · ka წვადი (capable of burning — see also inflammable) · ka აალებადი (easily set on fire) · ka ცეცხლსაშიში (easily set on fire) · da letantændelig (easily set on fire) · de entzündbar (capable of burning — see also inflammable) · bg леснозапалим (capable of burning — see also inflammable) · el εκρηκτικός (capable of burning — see also inflammable) · el εύφλεκτος (easily set on fire) · eo brulema (easily set on fire) · de feuergefährlich (easily set on fire) · cs hořlavý (capable of burning — see also inflammable) · nl brandbaar (capable of burning — see also inflammable) · ka წვადი (easily set on fire) · cmn 易燃 (easily set on fire) · fr inflammable (easily set on fire) · eo flamiĝema (easily set on fire) · el ευέξαπτος (capable of burning — see also inflammable) · sv lättantändlig (easily set on fire) · sv brännbar (capable of burning — see also inflammable) · ka ცეცხლსაშიში (capable of burning — see also inflammable) · lb feiergeféierlech (capable of burning — see also inflammable) · cmn 易燃 (capable of burning — see also inflammable) · fr enflammable (capable of burning — see also inflammable) · fi herkästi syttyvä (easily set on fire) · nl licht ontvlambaar (easily set on fire) · fr inflammable (capable of burning — see also inflammable) · is eldfimur (capable of burning — see also inflammable) · es inflamable (capable of burning — see also inflammable) · ga inlasta (capable of burning — see also inflammable) · ca inflamable (capable of burning — see also inflammable) · da brændbar (capable of burning — see also inflammable) · fr inflammable (subject to easy ignition and rapid flaming combustion) · ru легковоспламеня́ющийся (capable of burning — see also inflammable) · pl łatwopalne (capable of burning — see also inflammable) · ga inadhainte (capable of burning — see also inflammable) · hu éghető (capable of burning — see also inflammable) · fr enflammable (easily set on fire) · da brandfarlig (easily set on fire) · ru огнеопа́сный (capable of burning — see also inflammable) · hu lobbanékony (subject to easy ignition and rapid flaming combustion) · fi syttyvä (easily set on fire) · fr enflammable (subject to easy ignition and rapid flaming combustion) · tl takaw-apoy (capable of burning — see also inflammable) · ka აალებადი (capable of burning — see also inflammable) · eo flamema (easily set on fire) · pt inflamável (capable of burning — see also inflammable) · ga so-lasta (capable of burning — see also inflammable) · pl łatwopalna (capable of burning — see also inflammable) · hu gyúlékony (easily set on fire) · nl ontvlambaar (capable of burning — see also inflammable) · ga so-adhainte (capable of burning — see also inflammable) · de brennbar (capable of burning — see also inflammable) · eo brulema (capable of burning — see also inflammable) · he דליק (capable of burning — see also inflammable) · de entflammbar (capable of burning — see also inflammable) · fi palava (capable of burning — see also inflammable) · es inflamable (easily set on fire) · el αναφλέξιμος (capable of burning — see also inflammable) · pl łatwopalny (capable of burning — see also inflammable) · el εύφλεκτος (capable of burning — see also inflammable) · sv brandfarlig (easily set on fire)