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
The firestorm created by former Olympic gymnast MyKayla Skinner’s YouTube diatribe last week has once again placed the U.S. Center for SafeSport into the spotlight of controversy.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 7 July 2024
But the firestorm that would have sabotaged most political careers in time didn't notably erode his political base.
—Susan Page, USA TODAY, 30 June 2024
The couple’s recent wedding is now at the center of an online firestorm after one of their guests filmed their entire big day and posted it all, and got lambasted as a result.
—Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 27 June 2024
The ensuing firestorm sent shockwaves throughout the industry, which still reverberate to this day.
—Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 19 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for firestorm 
Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 7 July 2024
But the firestorm that would have sabotaged most political careers in time didn't notably erode his political base.
—Susan Page, USA TODAY, 30 June 2024
The couple’s recent wedding is now at the center of an online firestorm after one of their guests filmed their entire big day and posted it all, and got lambasted as a result.
—Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 27 June 2024
The ensuing firestorm sent shockwaves throughout the industry, which still reverberate to this day.
—Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 19 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for firestorm
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'firestorm.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Firestorm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/firestorm. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.
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