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
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
Despite the media firestorm, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos said in a cover story with Variety that the company would be open to working with the actress again.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 16 Sep. 2025
The killing of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December sparked a firestorm of debate, with donations for alleged assassin Luigi Mangione nearing $1 million ahead of his first court hearing in April.
—Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025
The killing ignited a social media firestorm amid a statewide search for the killer.
—Carlie Procell, USA Today, 14 Sep. 2025
For one thing, those who lost homes and loved ones in the deadly firestorms that swept through Los Angeles neighborhoods this year will probably never see a dime of the $40 billion in federal relief funds Newsom and other officials have sought.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for firestorm
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Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 16 Sep. 2025
The killing of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December sparked a firestorm of debate, with donations for alleged assassin Luigi Mangione nearing $1 million ahead of his first court hearing in April.
—Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025
The killing ignited a social media firestorm amid a statewide search for the killer.
—Carlie Procell, USA Today, 14 Sep. 2025
For one thing, those who lost homes and loved ones in the deadly firestorms that swept through Los Angeles neighborhoods this year will probably never see a dime of the $40 billion in federal relief funds Newsom and other officials have sought.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for firestorm
Cite this Entry
“Firestorm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/firestorm. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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