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Definition of inferno

inferno

/ɪnˈfɜːrnoʊ/
in · fer · no
Adverb:infernally
•
Plural:infernos
•
Adjective:infernal
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inferno Lexical Profile

inferno Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A large, intensely hot, and dangerously out-of-control fire.

Example

"Strong coastal winds quickly turned the small brush fire into a raging inferno."

2

Hell or the underworld, or a place or state that resembles hell in its extreme heat, chaos, or suffering.

Example

"Without air conditioning during the July heatwave, the cramped factory floor felt like an absolute inferno."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for inferno

• Nearby Words

inferior
inferiority
infernal
inferno
infertile
infertility
infest

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the early 19th century from Italian inferno ('hell'), from Late Latin infernus ('the lower world'), originally a Latin adjective meaning 'situated below'. Its English adoption was heavily popularized by translations of Dante Alighieri's 14th-century epic poem Inferno.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Inferno. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/inferno
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