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as in firebrand
a person who stirs up public feelings especially of discontent
blamed the protests on outside incendiaries who were intent on overthrowing the government
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in provocative
tending to excite political disorder or insurrection
recklessly made incendiary remarks during a period of heightened racial tensions
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of incendiary
Brad Lendon, CNN, 7 Sep. 2024
But the only traditional incendiaries in the story are the radical Protestant preacher Anne Askew (Erin Doherty), a friend of Katherine’s, and Henry’s minion, Bishop Stephen Gardiner, played by an inquisitorial Simon Russell Beale.
—Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post, 14 June 2024
Aaron Leibowitz, Miami Herald, 3 Mar. 2026
Calling people names, especially names that are incendiary in content, wins no arguments and creates opposition instead of a fair hearing for one's counter-arguments.
—Cal Thomas, Arkansas Online, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for incendiary
Noun
Ukrainian officers also accused Russia of using incendiaries in attacks on the city of Bakhmut last year.
—Brad Lendon, CNN, 7 Sep. 2024
But the only traditional incendiaries in the story are the radical Protestant preacher Anne Askew (Erin Doherty), a friend of Katherine’s, and Henry’s minion, Bishop Stephen Gardiner, played by an inquisitorial Simon Russell Beale.
—Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post, 14 June 2024
Adjective
The more recent letter said that Rampell made incendiary remarks during the town hall about Jose Bueno, the chief of staff to the school district’s superintendent.
—Aaron Leibowitz, Miami Herald, 3 Mar. 2026
Calling people names, especially names that are incendiary in content, wins no arguments and creates opposition instead of a fair hearing for one's counter-arguments.
—Cal Thomas, Arkansas Online, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for incendiary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incendiary
Noun
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That’s the torch Rubio now proudly carries.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
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Truth be told, George Floyd and Rodney King were not ideal torch bearers.—
Leonard Greene,
New York Daily News,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The conservative firebrand has represented a Central Texas congressional district since 2019, raising his profile through high-profile clashes in Congress before entering the race in December with the highest name recognition in the field.—
Philip Jankowski
Austin Bureau,
Dallas Morning News,
4 Mar. 2026
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Conventional political wisdom has it that Talarico was the stronger Democratic candidate in November, especially if Republicans nominate Paxton, a conservative firebrand who has weathered allegations of corruption and infidelity over the years.—
Bill Barrow,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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An architect by training, Censori, 31, has been an enigmatic and largely silent fixture in West’s orbit for years, making her statements mostly through provocative performance art that often incorporates public nudity.—
Nancy Dillon,
Rolling Stone,
5 Mar. 2026
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Moshfegh, who pairs regressive politics with a wild, provocative humor, is an obvious influence on Dimes Square novels.—
Malavika Kannan,
Vulture,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
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These are Loyalists who have been killed by rebels.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
6 Mar. 2026
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While Machar is currently on trial for offenses including treason, fighting has intensified in areas seen as his strongholds, where government troops are trying to disperse the rebels.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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In a 2018 study, Kunutsor and his colleagues showed that Finns who frequently sauna have lower levels of inflammatory markers.—
Will Stone,
NPR,
6 Mar. 2026
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As a potent growth signal, theoretical risks include unwanted cell proliferation or inflammatory responses when injected into areas not needing wound repair.—
Cindy Krischer Goodman,
Sun Sentinel,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
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That kind of chaos could easily spill over Iran’s borders, and not just by land; the Persian Gulf is narrow, and would not pose much of an obstacle to terrorists or insurgents who cross it in speedboats.—
Robert F. Worth,
The Atlantic,
6 Mar. 2026
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Paxton will counter that Texas runoffs often reward insurgents.—
Gromer Jeffers Jr,
Dallas Morning News,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The violence erupted during an anti-Islam protest organized by a right-wing provocateur that was dwarfed by more than 100 counterprotesters, officials said.—
Tricia Escobedo,
CNN Money,
9 Mar. 2026
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Ye’s spokesperson, far-right provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos, defended his boss outside the courtroom.—
Victoria Bekiempis,
Vulture,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
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In every era a certain kind of unprincipled demagogue driven by an insatiable need for attention and a sense of what will capture the public’s imagination rises to the fore.—
Mark Lilla,
The New York Review of Books,
5 Mar. 2026
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The 2026 State of the Union speech stands in contrast, a speech by a mendacious demagogue who has degraded his listeners by debauching their instincts.—
Eliot A. Cohen,
The Atlantic,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Incendiary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incendiary. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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