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

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

2

a

: a sudden or violent outburst

a firestorm of public protest

b

: a raging controversy

a political firestorm

Synonyms of firestorm

• controversy
• debate
• dispute
• disputation
• disagreement

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

Turner appeared to coyly weigh in on the media firestorm while opening up about dating in the public eye. —Lara Walsh, InStyle, 7 Jan. 2026

In the days immediately after last January’s Los Angeles firestorm, state lawmakers and civic leaders promised to turbocharge the rebuilding effort. —Calmatters, Daily News, 7 Jan. 2026

After a remarkable dry streak in 2024 that helped fuel last January’s firestorms, this winter is making up for it, with some areas already approaching average rain totals for the entire season. —Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2026

President Trump facing a political firestorm over the Jeffrey Epstein files, dividing his base and putting the president on the defensive. —ABC News, 28 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1945, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for firestorm

• chloroform
• coliform
• cribriform
• cruciform
• filiform
• fusiform
• isoform
• microform
• multiform
• multiforme
• outperform
• piriform