Oh my word Flammable, Inflammable

The opposite of tolerant is intolerant, consistent is inconsistency, conceivable is inconceivable, famous is infamous but the antonym of flammable is not inflammable. Flammable and inflammable are synonyms. Inflammable is not the opposite of flammable. Inflammable means burning easily. Flammable and inflammable means that which can be set something on fire, that which burns easily. Flammable is an adjective. Flammable means combustible, incendiary, inflammable, and ignitable. Inflammable material is flammable.

Inflammable substances are explosive, volatile, incendiary, combustible. One should not go near the fire wearing flammable garments. Many lorries carry easily flammable materials. That is why they have a warning sign written at the back of vehicles: Highly Inflammable. Figuratively, inflammable refers to getting easily excited or aroused. People who have inflammable temper will not be tolerated unless he or she is a boss!

“Flammable. An oddity, chiefly useful in saving lives. The common word meaning ‘combustible’ is inflammable. But some people are thrown off by the in- and think inflammable means ‘not combustible.’ For this reason, trucks carrying gasoline or explosives are now marked FLAMMABLE. Unless you are operating such a truck and hence are concerned with the safety of children and illiterates, use inflammable.” ―E.B. White, The Elements of Style Flammability and inflammability are the noun forms of flammable and inflammable.

Flammable comes from the word flame: flame is a noun. Flame means fire, light, glowing part of a fire, spark, blaze, brightness, inferno. Flame also means passion, enthusiasm, intensity, affection, warmth, fervor, ardour, keenness, fervency. Informally, flame means sweetheart, partner, lover, girlfriend, boyfriend, beloved, heart-throb, and ladylove. Page 3 of newspapers often report on the flames of the movie stars. Flame as a verb refers to flash, shine, blaze, flare, glare.

Like flammable, flaming is an adjective meaning burning, blazing, fiery, raging, hot, and ablaze. It also means intense, angry, aroused, vivid, impassioned, frenzied, ardent, and scintillating. The noun inflammation has nothing to do with inflammable. Inflammation means swelling, soreness, burning, heat, sore, rash, tenderness, redness, painfulness.

Inflammatory is an adjective; inflammatory means provocative, making people angry; incendiary, inflaming, riotous, intemperate, seditious, rabble-rousing; like showing a red rag to a bull, instigate. Inflammatory also refers to produce inflammation. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affects colon and intestine. It is not uncommon to witness inflammatory speeches of few politicians at the time of elections.