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
Last year, Dusty Deevers, a right-wing firebrand known for trying to ban no-fault divorce, introduced legislation that would allow government employees to be paid in bitcoin.
—
Bracey Harris, NBC news, 28 Mar. 2026
French former Prime Minister Lionel Jospin, who gave France its 35-hour work week and then withdrew from politics after leading France’s Socialist Party to an earth-shaking presidential election defeat against far-right firebrand Jean-Marie Le Pen, has died.
—ABC News, 23 Mar. 2026
An angry deity hurled a firebrand at the swallow, singeing away its middle tail feathers.
—Kurt Snibbe, Oc Register, 21 Mar. 2026
Continue reading … VETTING FAILURE — Far-left firebrand dodges questions over hiring bodyguard with criminal history.
—FOXNews.com, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for firebrand
Bracey Harris, NBC news, 28 Mar. 2026
French former Prime Minister Lionel Jospin, who gave France its 35-hour work week and then withdrew from politics after leading France’s Socialist Party to an earth-shaking presidential election defeat against far-right firebrand Jean-Marie Le Pen, has died.
—ABC News, 23 Mar. 2026
An angry deity hurled a firebrand at the swallow, singeing away its middle tail feathers.
—Kurt Snibbe, Oc Register, 21 Mar. 2026
Continue reading … VETTING FAILURE — Far-left firebrand dodges questions over hiring bodyguard with criminal history.
—FOXNews.com, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for firebrand
Recent Examples of Synonyms for firebrand
Noun
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Julian is both old and a devout rebel, with a lifetime’s worth of wisdom, wit and burned bridges in his arsenal.—
Lindsey Bahr,
Boston Herald,
16 Apr. 2026
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Why isn’t Homelander lasering these rebels immediately?—
Ben Rosenstock,
Vulture,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Use a front-loading washing machine or a top-loading washing machine without an agitator.—
Katie Cloyd,
Martha Stewart,
22 Apr. 2026
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Type Of Machine For a top-loading washing machine, add sheets to the drum one at a time in a loose pile, and distribute them evenly around the agitator or impeller.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
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But proponents see the redistricting push in Virginia as a necessary reaction after Republicans launched similar actions in states like Texas, North Carolina and Missouri.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
17 Apr. 2026
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While the proponents of this plan promise lower rates and more local control, the reality is far more dangerous.—
Chris Cate,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Does the rise of right-wing demagogues offer chilling parallels to the Pinochet era?—
Christopher Vourlias,
Variety,
22 Apr. 2026
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Leftist demagogues specialize in lose-lose-lose policies.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
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In the aftermath, Steyer and his rivals have been working to win over Swalwell’s supporters.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
22 Apr. 2026
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His supporters touted video of Stevens being booed at the convention, only to watch other Democrats openly resent the disruption — likening it to activists on the left who refused to vote for Democratic nominees in 2016 and 2024.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Live Nation could have to set limits on its exclusive ticketing contracts and fees, and open some of its venues to rival promoters — along with fees.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
16 Apr. 2026
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One remedy that many ticketing advocates and Democratic lawmakers want is for the government to force the breakup of Live Nation and Ticketmaster — which merged in 2010 — separating the concert promoter from the ticket seller.—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
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But Fuqua’s Hannibal is recognizably Black—an African insurgent taking on a European empire.—
Kelefa Sanneh,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
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That year, Ukraine elected a Western-leaning government, preceding Russia’s seizure of the Crimean Peninsula and arming of insurgent groups to occupy parts of the industrialised east of the country.—
Colin Millar,
New York Times,
12 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Alliances with independents and provocateurs can bring younger crowds to the traditional news fold in an era when such viewership is not guaranteed.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
20 Apr. 2026
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For 15 years as a member of French psych pop provocateurs La Femme, Magnée and band members were walking billboards for retro chic fashion.—
Selena Fragassi,
SPIN,
14 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Firebrand.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/firebrand. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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