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.
Examples of firebrand in a Sentence
Sam Gillette, People.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Marjorie Taylor Greene—Georgia’s 14th District The firebrand Republican has been one of Trump’s most ardent supporters on Capitol Hill since her election in 2021.
—Nik Popli, Time, 21 July 2025
Mamdani, a progressive firebrand from Queens, edged past Cuomo in the eighth round of simulated ranked choice voting, according to an Emerson College Polling/Pix11/the Hill survey released Monday.
—Heather Hunter, The Washington Examiner, 23 June 2025
Still, Paxton is more aligned with the MAGA firebrand base, and a network of pro-Trump influencers has been hammering Cornyn online for months.
—Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 2 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for firebrand
Cite this Entry
“Firebrand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/firebrand. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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firebrand
noun
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