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firestorm

noun

ˈfī(-ə)r-ˌstȯrm How to pronounce firestorm (audio)
Definition of firestormnext
as in controversy
variance of opinion on a matter a seemingly endless firestorm was ignited by that U.S. Supreme Court decision

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Example Sentences

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 firestorm Macklemore announced his donation in the midst of the ongoing firestorm surrounding his removal from the Loop Tour. — Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 17 Sep. 2026 The posts caused a firestorm on social media and led to a response from major AI leaders. — Samantha Subin,arjun Kharpal, CNBC, 14 Sep. 2026 After Kimmel was temporarily suspended over the matter, a firestorm engulfed ABC’s owner, Disney. — Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 10 Sep. 2026 The Big Ten’s decision to put one second on the clock after the NBC broadcast showed there was no time left became an online firestorm. — Cameron Teague Robinson, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for firestorm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for firestorm
  1. controversy
  2. debate
  3. dispute
  4. disputation
  5. disagreement
Noun
  • The Drivecast is The Drive‘s weekly podcast that takes you behind the scenes on the big stories, controversies, and characters shaping the automotive industry and the way our roads look today.
    — Kyle Cheromcha, The Drive, 24 Sep. 2026
  • That same year, MOCA canceled its annual gala amid controversy over a lack of diversity among former gala honorees — all straight white men.
    — Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of controversy
Noun
  • The Civic Committee’s latest contribution to the debate over Chicago’s future is to our minds a plea.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 20 Sep. 2026
  • From higher airport parking fees to a growing debate over license plate cameras, plenty of local news shaped the Sacramento region this week.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of debate
Noun
  • OpenAI finished the job less than a day later—timing that has led to a heated dispute between the latter two mathematicians and the company.
    — Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 21 Sep. 2026
  • The dispute dates to March, when the government of then-President Rodrigo Chaves Robles closed Costa Rica’s embassy in Havana and gave Cuban diplomats until the end of the month to leave.
    — Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of dispute
Noun
  • This did not, however, mark the end of disputation concerning the Northwest Angle.
    — Scott Spires, Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Mar. 2026
  • According to him, advances in machine learning have yanked questions once trapped inside theological/philosophical disputations into corporate board packs.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 15 Aug. 2025
Definition of disputation
Noun
  • The organization believes some of these conversations and disagreements among board members are drawing time and attention away from students, many of whom are Hispanic and come from Spanish-speaking backgrounds.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 25 Sep. 2026
  • The disagreement came as Zambia was seeking to attract more investment into its copper and other critical-minerals industries while maintaining longstanding economic ties with China and developing closer commercial relations with the US.
    — Yinka Adegoke, semafor.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of disagreement

Browse Nearby Words

firesides
firestorm
firestorms
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Firestorm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/firestorm. Accessed 26 Sep. 2026.

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