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

• 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

Sweeney was thrust into a firestorm over the American Eagle commercial. —Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 31 July 2025

In early 2021, after trading on the app exploded thanks in part to pandemic lockdowns and millions of stimulus checks, Robinhood became the focus of a regulatory firestorm during the GameStop meme-stock trading frenzy. —Nina Bambysheva, Forbes.com, 29 July 2025

Trump and his Republican allies have sought to distract from the firestorm by blaming Democrats and bringing up old feuds. —Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 24 July 2025

Attorney General Pam Bondi deflected several questions on Tuesday when asked about the firestorm surrounding the Department of Justice and FBI's Jeffrey Epstein memo released last week. —Sonam Sheth gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 July 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