inflammable
Catches fire readily
Inflammable means capable of catching fire easily—the same as flammable.
The prefix comes from Latin *inflammare* (to set on fire), not the English negative *in-*.
Because the apparent contradiction causes dangerous confusion, flammable has largely replaced inflammable on warning labels.
Figuratively, an inflammable situation or temperament is volatile, easily provoked: The political climate was inflammable.
Able to catch flame
- burnableCapable of combustion
- fuelEnergy source material
- kindlingMaterial for starting fires
- accelerantCombustion-intensifying substance
tinder · combustion · spontaneous combustion · oxygen · fire · ignite · smolder · char
Refined petroleum vehicle fuel
- propaneFlammable hydrocarbon fuel
- ethanolDrinkable volatile spirit
- methaneSimplest alkane fuel
- butaneFlammable hydrocarbon gas
acetone · ether · kerosene · turpentine · benzene · toluene · petroleum · natural gas
Apt to cause harm
- hazardSource of potential harm
- fire riskDanger of combustion
- fire hazardCombustion danger source
- explosiveProne to sudden detonation
peril · unsafe · firetrap · precarious · volatile · accident-prone · menace · catastrophe
Text alerting to dangers
- cautionCareful attention to risk
- safetyFreedom from harm
- precautionPreventive safety measure
- fire safetyPractices preventing burn hazards
no smoking · prohibition · hazmat · storage · handling · regulation · NFPA · pictogram
Failure to grasp meaning
- ambiguousHaving multiple interpretations
- misleadingCausing false beliefs
- deceptiveCreating false impressions
- misinterpretationIncorrect understanding of meaning
misconception · prefix · linguistic · misnomer · false friend · equivocal · unclear · Latin
ignitable
Able to catch flame
accelerant · tinder · combustion · spontaneous combustion · oxygen · fire · ignite · smolder · char · scorch
gasoline
Refined petroleum vehicle fuel
butane · acetone · ether · kerosene · turpentine · benzene · toluene · petroleum · natural gas · alcohol
dangerous
Apt to cause harm
- hazardSource of potential harm
- fire riskDanger of combustion
- fire hazardCombustion danger source
explosive · peril · unsafe · firetrap · precarious · volatile · accident-prone · menace · catastrophe · disaster
warning label
Text alerting to dangers
- cautionCareful attention to risk
- safetyFreedom from harm
- precautionPreventive safety measure
fire safety · no smoking · prohibition · hazmat · storage · handling · regulation · NFPA · pictogram · signage
misunderstanding
Failure to grasp meaning
- ambiguousHaving multiple interpretations
- misleadingCausing false beliefs
- deceptiveCreating false impressions
misinterpretation · misconception · prefix · linguistic · misnomer · false friend · equivocal · unclear · Latin · opposite
inflammablenonflammable
Unable to burn
non-flammable · incombustible · noncombustible · fireproof · non-inflammable