firebrand
noun
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The original firebrands were incendiary indeed; they were pieces of wood set burning at the fire, perhaps for use as a light or a weapon. English speakers started brandishing those literal firebrands as long ago as the 13th century. (Robinson Crusoe held one high as he rushed into a cave on his deserted island and saw by the light of the firebrand . . . lying on the ground a monstrous, frightful old he-goat.) But the burning embers of the wooden firebrand quickly sparked figurative uses for the term, too. By the early 14th century, firebrand was also being used for one doomed to burn in hell, and by 1382, English writers were using it for anyone who kindled mischief or inflamed passions.
Synonyms of firebrand
Examples of firebrand in a Sentence
Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 16 Mar. 2026
Club America is the high school equivalent of Turning Point USA, a nonprofit founded in 2012 by Charlie Kirk, the right-wing political firebrand who was shot and killed in September.
—Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2026
An unexpectedly and profoundly unnecessary high price for the incendiary firebrands of the destructive new left.
—Bob Ehrlich, Baltimore Sun, 10 Mar. 2026
The conservative firebrand has represented a Central Texas congressional district since 2019, raising his profile through high-profile clashes in Congress before entering the race in December with the highest name recognition in the field.
—Philip Jankowski
austin Bureau, Dallas Morning News, 4 Mar. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Firebrand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/firebrand. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
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firebrand
noun
