FIREBRANDS Synonyms: 47 Similar and Opposite Words

firebrands

noun

plural of firebrand

as in rebels

a person who stirs up public feelings especially of discontent a firebrand who urged crowds to riot during the blackouts

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of firebrands In a moment when voters increasingly reward populist firebrands, Becerra presents as calm, workmanlike, and maybe a little boring. — Ben Paviour august 17, Sacbee.com, 17 Aug. 2026 If the conservative base continues to demand ideological purity, pushing polarizing firebrands into a general election, the result will always be an immediate, lopsided blowout. — Dain Fitzgerald, The Washington Examiner, 1 Aug. 2026 The 2026 midterms are already being shaken up by populist firebrands and antiestablishment outsiders. — James Desio, Washington Post, 15 May 2026 Since arriving on the scene almost a decade ago, the trio have presented themselves as firebrands, ready to stick it to an establishment seeking to strangle the last remnants of 20th century Irish republicanism. — Dean Van Nguyen, Pitchfork, 30 Apr. 2026 An unexpectedly and profoundly unnecessary high price for the incendiary firebrands of the destructive new left. — Bob Ehrlich, Baltimore Sun, 10 Mar. 2026 Ken Paxton and Jasmine Crockett, both firebrands within their respective party primaries, are slated to watch results roll in just a mile apart in central Dallas. — Samantha Ketterer, Houston Chronicle, 3 Mar. 2026 Inmates including Sam Bankman-Fried and Harvey Weinstein have turned to such right-wing firebrands as Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens to present alternative narratives to their cases. — Andrew Zucker, HollywoodReporter, 13 Feb. 2026 In the 1980s, right-wing firebrands such as Jerry Falwell and Anita Bryant claimed that the AIDS epidemic was a plague sent by God to punish gay people. — Hillary Rodham Clinton, The Atlantic, 29 Jan. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for firebrands

Noun

Saudi diplomats had notified US lawmakers in August of a breakdown in political channels with the Houthis and the rebels’ plans to escalate against the kingdom, and sought Washington’s backing to push back, the source said.

— Becky Anderson, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2026
Government forces have reclaimed territory from the Houthis in the provinces of Hodeida and Taiz, and attacked the rebels in the northern province of Jawf as well as the central provinces of Marib and Bayda.

— Samy Magdy, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of rebels

Noun

Now, Bartko fears death in a Kansas prison cell or deportation to Belarus, where her friends have been prosecuted as political agitators.

— Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 30 Aug. 2026
For several years before the IAU vote, there had been agitators among the astronomical community lobbying for our solar system's nine worlds to become eight, and for Pluto's planetary status to be revoked.

— Keith Cooper, Space.com, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of agitators

Noun

This included understanding the history of democratic ideas and practical governance, as well as the need to protect minority groups and the dangers posed by demagogues.

— Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 1 Sep. 2026
In recent years, totalizing ideologies such as communism, fascism, and Islamism have found dedicated audiences on social media, and the proliferation of demagogues manipulating people for malign ends is an ever-present worry.

— James Kirchick, The Atlantic, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of demagogues

Noun

In order to secure the large number of signatures, proponents of initiatives typically hire petition management companies, according to the indictment.

— Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026
Justice Brett Kavanaugh has requested a response from the plaintiffs in the lawsuit — the proponents of the new redistricting map — by Thursday morning.

— CBS News, CBS News, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of proponents

Noun

Hundreds joined the insurgents that day, and their numbers soon swelled into the thousands.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 Sep. 2026
Many of the 9/11 hijackers, for instance, initially went to Afghanistan with the intention to acquire skills and connections before traveling onward to Chechnya to fight alongside Chechen insurgents against Russian security forces.

— Daniel Byman, Foreign Affairs, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of insurgents

Noun

Few would begrudge Mohamed Salah his Professional Footballers’ Association Player of the Year prize for his 2024-25 season with Liverpool, but there are always reflected glories back to the club and its supporters.

— Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
An Alabama woman accused of causing a deadly crash while driving a school bus experienced a medical crisis during the accident, her supporters reportedly said.

— Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of supporters

Noun

Avsec said AlphaGenome works well for some classes of variant, such as those affecting splicing or promoters, but can miss others, particularly in enhancers.

— Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2026
At the time, there was no real professional scene for female fighters, with the major promoters not seeing any commercial value in it.

— Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of promoters

Noun

The faux outrage was egged on by professional right-wing provocateurs like Robby Starbuck, Benny Johnson and a leading investor in MAGA darling Steak n’ Shake.

— Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026
Global organizations navigate a complex landscape, prompting boards to evolve beyond traditional oversight into strategic provocateurs.

— Anna Marks, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026

Definition of provocateurs

Browse Nearby Words

firebrand

firebrands

fire-breather

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“Firebrands.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/firebrands. Accessed 16 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of firebrands

noun

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