as in rebel
a person who stirs up public feelings especially of discontent
a firebrand who urged crowds to riot during the blackouts
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Recent Examples of firebrand
The memorial service for Kirk, whom Trump credits with playing a pivotal role in his 2024 election victory, drew tens of thousands of mourners, including Vice President JD Vance, other senior administration officials and young conservatives shaped by the 31-year-old firebrand.
—
Jane Tyska, Mercury News, 22 Sep. 2025
The memorial service for Kirk, whom Trump credits with playing a pivotal role in his 2024 election victory, is expected to draw tens of thousands of mourners, including Vice President JD Vance, senior White House officials and young conservatives shaped by the 31-year-old firebrand.
—Aamer Madhani, Fortune, 21 Sep. 2025
That could be a problem in the GOP primary, particularly with residents who are used to Roy’s ability to weave in and out of being a conservative-libertarian firebrand and an intellectual devoted to the movement’s ideas and principles.
—Taylor Millard, The Washington Examiner, 19 Sep. 2025
The heavy concentrations of dead and down fuels will complicate containment efforts and provide sources for firebrands and ember cast when adjacent to control lines.
—Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for firebrand
Jane Tyska, Mercury News, 22 Sep. 2025
The memorial service for Kirk, whom Trump credits with playing a pivotal role in his 2024 election victory, is expected to draw tens of thousands of mourners, including Vice President JD Vance, senior White House officials and young conservatives shaped by the 31-year-old firebrand.
—Aamer Madhani, Fortune, 21 Sep. 2025
That could be a problem in the GOP primary, particularly with residents who are used to Roy’s ability to weave in and out of being a conservative-libertarian firebrand and an intellectual devoted to the movement’s ideas and principles.
—Taylor Millard, The Washington Examiner, 19 Sep. 2025
The heavy concentrations of dead and down fuels will complicate containment efforts and provide sources for firebrands and ember cast when adjacent to control lines.
—Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for firebrand
Recent Examples of Synonyms for firebrand
Noun
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In Syria, rebels overthrew Assad last year, Israeli strikes killed Hezbollah and Hamas’ top leaders, while Iraqi militant groups faded into the background.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
12 Oct. 2025
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In Valentin's case, his love for Molina, and in Cassian's, his love for adoptive mother, Maarva (Fiona Shaw), girlfriend Bix (Adria Arjona), and the other rebels with whom he's aligned himself.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The cases range from political agitators seeking to intimidate immigrants to others using the guise of authority to allegedly kidnap, rob or assault victims.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
3 Oct. 2025
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Country music’s premier agitator, Gavin Adcock, is also on the lineup.—
Joseph Hudak,
Rolling Stone,
25 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Massive Attack have also joined a separate but parallel drive to pull music from Spotify altogether; proponents of that movement primarily cite founder Daniel Ek’s investment in weapons contractor Helsing, which is not linked to Israel.—
Jazz Monroe,
Pitchfork,
6 Oct. 2025
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With Newsom’s signature now on AB 1340, drivers can collectively bargain and unionize, including negotiating contracts, which would set industry-wide standards, according to proponents like bill sponsors Assemblymembers Marc Berman, D-Menlo Park, and Buffy Wicks, D-Oakland.—
David Lightman,
Sacbee.com,
6 Oct. 2025
Noun
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America seems unlikely to be made great again by the demagogues of white nationalism, who cannot help but channel fury over irreversible decline at those who have been working hard, through either literal or spiritual immigration, to become American.—
Pankaj Mishra,
Harpers Magazine,
19 Sep. 2025
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Our shrinking attention span has left us vulnerable to demagogues and misinformation from every direction.—
Doug McIntyre,
Oc Register,
31 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Miami philanthropists Trish and Dan Bell, who have given millions to different organizations across South Florida, are longtime supporters of the Foundation and are members of the Golden Angel Society, the Foundation’s premier giving group.—
Michelle Marchante,
Miami Herald,
12 Oct. 2025
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The statue is still standing years later amid a pushback from supporters, who see Columbus as a symbol of Italian American pride.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
11 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Then, that night, Turki Al-Sheikh, a Saudi Arabian government official and sports promoter, posted on social-media platform X that United were close to being sold.—
Dan Sheldon,
New York Times,
11 Oct. 2025
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Swift said of the music mogul and promoter who helps the NFL select the Super Bowl act in recent seasons.—
Dominick Mastrangelo,
The Hill,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Like the Industrial Revolution-era insurgents, the new Luddites are not anti-technology but anti-exploitation, the tech journalist Brian Merchant tells me.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
8 Oct. 2025
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After two cycles in which pro-Israel groups spent heavily against left-wing candidates, insurgent Democrats believe the mood has changed.—
David Weigel,
semafor.com,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
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At least one protester filed a complaint against Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, saying an officer hit her in the throat with a bike handle and police refused to give her his name.—
Julia Coin,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Oct. 2025
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In one scene, agents carried a protester by their arms and legs.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
6 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Firebrand.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/firebrand. Accessed 14 Oct. 2025.
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