How do you pronounce it?
The noun starts with the stressed syllable: IN-sens, /ˈɪn.sens/. The anger verb stresses the second syllable: in-SENS, /ɪnˈsens/. In an anger context, incensed means very angry.
Where the word comes from
The noun passed through Anglo-French and Late Latin from a Latin word for something burned. Merriam-Webster traces the anger verb probably to Latin incendere, meaning to set on fire or inflame. These historical connections do not make the act of burning incense a modern expression for becoming angry.
Look at the grammar
Our examples: “The unfair decision incensed the players” uses the anger verb; “The shop sells incense” uses the scented noun. “She was incensed by the delay” describes her anger. No burning material is involved in those anger examples.
Use the sense that fits the whole group
The four green answers need not express exactly the same intensity. INCENSE can suggest extreme anger, NETTLE irritation, PIQUE resentment, and WIND UP deliberate annoyance. PIQUE also occurs in “pique an interest,” but the anger sense is the one that connects this group.
Why this word appears in Connections
In Connections #1240 on November 2, 2026, INCENSE joins NETTLE, PIQUE and WIND UP in ANGER. Read each as a verb that can describe making someone angry or annoyed. The scented-material reading is tempting beside the mist-making tiles, but it does not explain the green quartet.
Puzzles featuring this word
Frequently asked questions
Can incense mean to make someone angry?
Yes. To incense someone is to make that person very angry or indignant. It is a verb, with stress on the second syllable.
Is incense pronounced the same as a noun and an anger verb?
The usual stress changes: IN-sens for the scented noun and in-SENS for the anger verb.
Does burning incense mean someone is angry?
No. Burning incense uses the scented-material sense. The anger verb is a separate use of the word.
Why is INCENSE in the ANGER group in Connections #1240?
It can mean to make someone very angry. NETTLE, PIQUE and WIND UP can also describe causing anger or annoyance, so the verb reading fits all four tiles.