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incendiario

incendiary

adjective een-sen-DYAH-ryoh Rare

Origin: Latin incendiarius, from incendium (fire)

Also means

inflammatory

Usage Note

Incendiario has a literal sense (an incendiary device, artefacto incendiario, designed to start fires) and a figurative sense (inflammatory speech or writing that stirs conflict). As a noun, un incendiario means an arsonist. The figurative sense — un discurso incendiario (an inflammatory speech) — is common in political journalism. The related verb is incendiar (to set fire to).

Examples

"El político fue criticado por sus comentarios incendiarios."

Natural Translation

The politician was criticised for his inflammatory comments.

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