incendiary

[in-sen-dee-er-ee] /ɪnˈsɛn diˌɛr i/
adjective
1.
used or adapted for setting property on fire:
incendiary bombs.
2.
of or pertaining to the criminal setting on fire of property.
3.
tending to arouse strife, sedition, etc.; inflammatory:
incendiary speeches.
4.
tending to inflame the senses:
an incendiary extravaganza of music and dance.
noun, plural incendiaries.
5.
a person who deliberately sets fire to buildings or other property, as an arsonist.
6.
Military. a shell, bomb, or grenade containing napalm, thermite, or some other substance that burns with an intense heat.
7.
a person who stirs up strife, sedition, etc.; an agitator.
Origin
1600-10; < Latin incendiārius, equivalent to incendi(um) a fire (incend(ere) to kindle (in- in-2 + -cendere, transitive v. from base of candēre to shine, be hot; see candent, candid, candor) + -ium -ium) + -ārius -ary
Examples from the web for incendiary
  • incendiary ammo is also available, which sets zombies on fire after gunshots.
  • The fire investigation unit does prosecute individuals responsible for incendiary fires and threats to burn property.
  • After the team on the ground searched the site, some of the contraband was destroyed with incendiary grenades and diesel fuel.
  • Arguments about whether to establish position limits are incendiary.
  • State television and official media, in their incendiary coverage of the events, didn't come off any better than the military.
  • incendiary bombs started fires, but the atmosphere itself fed and fanned the flames.
  • Discharge of a firearm using incendiary or tracer ammunition.
British Dictionary definitions for incendiary

incendiary

/ɪnˈsɛndɪərɪ/
adjective
1.
of or relating to the illegal burning of property, goods, etc
2.
tending to create strife, violence, etc; inflammatory
3.
(of a substance) capable of catching fire, causing fires, or burning readily
noun (pl) -aries
4.
a person who illegally sets fire to property, goods, etc; arsonist
5.
(esp formerly) a person who stirs up civil strife, violence, etc, for political reasons; agitator
6.
Also called incendiary bomb. a bomb that is designed to start fires
7.
an incendiary substance, such as phosphorus
Word Origin
C17: from Latin incendiārius setting alight, from incendium fire, from incendere to kindle
Word Origin and History for incendiary

c.1400 as a noun, "person who sets malicious fires;" mid-15c. as an adjective, "capable of being used to set fires," from Latin incendiarius "causing a fire," from incendium "conflagration," from incendere "set on fire," figuratively, "incite, rouse, enrage," from in- "into, in, on, upon" (see in- (2)) + *candere "to set alight, cause to glow," related to candere "to shine" (see candle). Figurative sense of "enflaming passions" (adj.) is from 1610s. Military use, of bombs, shells, etc., attested from 1871. The obsolete verb incend is attested from c.1500.