Incendiary (ˌɪnˈsɛn.di.ɛ.ri) is primarily used to describe devices or language intended to start fires or provoke strong emotional reactions; it can also refer to strong, inflammatory rhetoric. In noun form, it denotes a person or thing that stirs up conflict or arson. The term carries connotations of danger, provocation, and urgency, often used in political or criminal contexts.
- You: You may pronounce the word as IN-sen-di-ary, with incorrect primary stress on IN. Fix: keep stress on SEN (second syllable) and pronounce -di- as a distinct syllable. - You: You may run the -di- and -ary together, sounding like -diary. Fix: separate syllables and pronounce final -ary as /-əri/ or /-ə.ri/ depending on accent. - You: You may reduce the middle vowel in ˈsen to a shorter sound, making it sound like ‘sin’. Fix: ensure full vowel in the -sen- syllable and hold for one beat before -di-.
- US: emphasize rhotic ending; pronounce final -iary as /-ɪəri/ or /-ɪəri/ in careful speech; listen for /ɚ/ or /ɪəri/ patterns. - UK: non-rhotic; the -ri often realized as /-riə/ or /-ri/ without /ɚ/. - AU: non-rhotic with a flatter vowel in initial syllable; ensure strong /ˈɪnˌsen.di.ə.ɹi/ in careful style; aim for crisp /di/ and a terminal /i/. IPA references: US /ˌɪnˌsenˈdiːəri/? Actually standard: US ˌɪnˈsen.di.ɚ.i; UK ˌɪnˈsen.di.ə.ri; AU ˌɪnˈsen.di.ə.ɹi.
"The incendiary device was found at the scene, prompting a full evacuation."
"Her speech contained incendiary language that inflamed public opinion."
"Authorities labeled the pamphlet as incendiary for its calls to violence."
"Investors avoided the incendiary rumors that spread on social media."
Incendiary derives from the Latin incendium, meaning ‘fire or conflagration,’ from incendere ‘to set on fire,’ itself from in- ‘in, on’ + candere ‘to glow, burn.’ The modern English form appears in the 17th century with senses tied to arson or devices for lighting fires. Its metaphorical usage — describing language or rhetoric meant to inflame passions — emerged in the 18th and 19th centuries as political discourse grew more heated. The suffix -ary denotes relating to or connected with; combined with incendi-, it conveys something meant to cause or enact burning or burning-like fervor. First known uses appear in legal and military contexts referencing incendiary weapons and devices; by the 1800s, it expanded to figurative uses in journalism and political rhetoric as a term for provocative, inflammatory content.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Incendiary" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Incendiary" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Incendiary"
-ary sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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You say in-SEN-dee-ary, with primary stress on the second syllable. IPA: US ˌɪnˈsen.di.ɚ.i, UK ˌɪnˈsen.di.ə.ri, AU ˌɪnˈsen.də.ri. Try breaking it as in- + SEN + die + ary; the ending sounds like -ary rather than -ery. Practice slowly: ˌɪn-ˈsen-di-ə-ri, then blend the last two syllables.
Common errors: 1) stressing the first syllable: IN-sen-diary; correct is the secondary stress on SEN. 2) Slurring the middle consonants into one sound: pronounce -sen-di- as separate syllables, not ‘sen-diary’ as a single block. 3) Merging the final -ary to -ary/ -ri too quickly, losing the /ə/ and /ɹi/ clarity. Focus on distinct vowel sounds and a clear /ɚ/ or /ə/ in the final syllables depending on accent.
US tends to fully articulate the final -ary as -əri with a rhotic ending /ɚi/ in many speakers, while UK often ends with /-əri/ or /-əriə/ without rhoticity, and AU may feature a slightly flatter vowel in the first syllable and a non-rhotic ending. The middle -sen- portion remains consistent; pay attention to the vowel in the second syllable (ˈsen) and the final reduced syllable. IPA references help: US ˌɪnˈsen.di.ɚ.i, UK ˌɪnˈsen.di.ə.ri, AU ˌɪnˈsen.di.ə.ɹi.
Two main challenges: the unstressed final -ary sequence with an /ɚ.i/ or /ə.ri/ realization can blur into a weak ending, and the sequence -sen- followed by -di- requires precise timing to avoid epenthesis or misplacing stress. The consonant cluster /nˈsi/ can invite a slight nasal assimilation if spoken quickly. Focus on maintaining the hiatal separation between syllables and the correct stress on SEN, while keeping the final /ri/ or /əri/ crisp.
Is the word more likely to be heard with a hard or soft ‘d’ in rapid speech, and does this affect the following vowel? In rapid speech, the /d/ in -di- can become flapped or less released in some dialects, producing a softer -di- connection. However, the primary stress and the syllable boundary remain stable: in-SEN-di-ary. Keep the /d/ clear in careful speech, especially in formal contexts, to avoid mishearing the -di- as a glide.
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- Shadowing: listen to clear models, repeat in real time, matching cadence on each syllable. - Minimal pairs: practice with -sen- vs -sen, -di- vs -di, -ary vs -ary to fix boundary; pairs like: in- SEN -di-ary vs in- SEN -di -a- ry. - Rhythm practice: focus on stress on the second syllable, use a metronome; start slow (60 bpm) and speed to 100 bpm with even timing. - Stress patterns: ensure primary stress on SEN; ultrasound or mouth position cues. - Recording: record and compare to models; check for final -ri- vowels; adjust mouth shape and lip rounding. - Context practice: use two sentences in formal and informal contexts to hear the word in natural speech.
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