firestorm
noun
fire·storm
ˈfī(-ə)r-ˌstȯrm 
1
: a very intense and destructive fire usually accompanied by high winds
The Rooses' house and gardens were obliterated in the 1991 Oakland firestorm.—
Craig Summers Black
Craig Summers Black
especially
: one that is started by attack with nuclear or incendiary weapons and that creates a powerful updraft which causes very strong inrushing winds to develop in the surrounding area
His goal was to create firestorms like the ones that had consumed Hamburg and Dresden, conflagrations so vast and intense that nothing could survive them … —David M. Kennedy
David M. Kennedy 2
a
: a sudden or violent outburst
a firestorm of public protest
b
: a raging controversy
a political firestorm
Synonyms
Examples of firestorm in a Sentence
The bombing left the city engulfed in a firestorm.
His proposal set off a political firestorm.
a firestorm of public protest
Recent Examples on the Web
California 5 dead, more than 1,100 structures destroyed as firestorm besieges L.A. County
29 minutes ago
Watch Duty, which counted 7.2 million yearly active users at the end of 2024, has already added 600,000 new users in the last 24 hours, according to CEO John Mills.
—Wendy Lee, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2025
The blaze is part of a massive firestorm that has killed at least five people, destroyed more than 2,000 structures and forced 130,000 people to evacuate.
—Don Sweeney, Sacramento Bee, 9 Jan. 2025
The topic ignited a firestorm of discussion on social media, and by Monday had made its way to ESPN’s Pat McAfee Show and FS1’s The Herd with Colin Cowherd.
—Stewart Mandel, The Athletic, 7 Jan. 2025
Special counsel Robert Mueller’s report released in April 2019 about the investigation into Russian interference caused another firestorm because of his decision not to consider charges against Trump as a sitting president.
—Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 7 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for firestorm 
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Wendy Lee, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2025
The blaze is part of a massive firestorm that has killed at least five people, destroyed more than 2,000 structures and forced 130,000 people to evacuate.
—Don Sweeney, Sacramento Bee, 9 Jan. 2025
The topic ignited a firestorm of discussion on social media, and by Monday had made its way to ESPN’s Pat McAfee Show and FS1’s The Herd with Colin Cowherd.
—Stewart Mandel, The Athletic, 7 Jan. 2025
Special counsel Robert Mueller’s report released in April 2019 about the investigation into Russian interference caused another firestorm because of his decision not to consider charges against Trump as a sitting president.
—Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 7 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for firestorm
Articles Related to firestorm
Dictionary Entries Near firestorm
Cite this Entry
“Firestorm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/firestorm. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
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