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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
Bill Reinhard, New York Daily News, 26 Jan. 2024
The fire marshal’s investigation indicated that the cause of the fire, which started in an interior hallway, was an incendiary.
—Aegis Staff Report, Baltimore Sun, 23 Jan. 2024
Josh Meyer, USA Today, 7 June 2025
With its ambition, its name cast, and its incendiary subject matter, Dogma seemed set to inaugurate a new era for Kevin Smith, indie auteur.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for incendiary
Noun
Aiyuk is the next incendiary to go off, especially if Deebo Samuel can’t go.
—Bill Reinhard, New York Daily News, 26 Jan. 2024
The fire marshal’s investigation indicated that the cause of the fire, which started in an interior hallway, was an incendiary.
—Aegis Staff Report, Baltimore Sun, 23 Jan. 2024
Adjective
Heye said that despite all the incendiary rhetoric, there’s still room for reconciliation or even a public recoupling.
—Josh Meyer, USA Today, 7 June 2025
With its ambition, its name cast, and its incendiary subject matter, Dogma seemed set to inaugurate a new era for Kevin Smith, indie auteur.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for incendiary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incendiary
Noun
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Both 28 Years Later and The Bone Temple were shot back to back, so in order to make both movies happen so quickly, Boyle passed the torch to Candyman and The Marvels director Nia DaCosta.—
Alejandra Gularte,
Vulture,
24 June 2025
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The pair have developed a relationship; arguably the closest Frenchman to winning the Tour de France in the last two decades passing the torch to the nation’s latest hope.—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
18 June 2025
Noun
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The United Kingdom sanctioned the two firebrands and imposed travel bans on them.—
Rachel Wolf,
FOXNews.com,
10 June 2025
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In a national poll in Good Housekeeping, Berg was ranked America’s second most admired woman, bested only by another liberal firebrand, Eleanor Roosevelt.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
9 June 2025
Adjective
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On Monday, Davis Gates didn’t do herself or her cause any favors with provocative messaging about how Chicago’s children are CTU’s kids, too.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
25 June 2025
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The Second Lady offers a quick congratulations to the provocative conservative panelist.—
Alexandra Del Rosario,
Los Angeles Times,
24 June 2025
Noun
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Yemen's Houthi rebels, aligned with Iran, have continued to launch attacks in the region despite the truce, including previous drone and missile strikes targeting Israel.—
Amanda Castro
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 June 2025
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Young-il manages to separate from the group and betrays the rebels, killing two of them and faking his own death.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2025
Adjective
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Autoimmune diseases were used as an indirect marker of chronic inflammation, rather than direct measures using inflammatory biomarkers, such as interleukin-6 (IL-6).—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
24 June 2025
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Regularly applying shea butter may help reduce symptoms of this chronic inflammatory disease.—
Mark Gurarie,
Verywell Health,
23 June 2025
Noun
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Widely viewed as the most powerful of a broad array of insurgent groups active in northern Syria, HTS withstood regular attacks by the Syrian military, ultimately turning the tide last December.—
Tom O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 May 2025
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In recent years, the PKK has been limited to isolated attacks inside Turkey as the Turkish military, backed by armed drones, has pushed its insurgents increasingly across the mountainous border into Iraq.—
Suzan Fraser,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2025
Noun
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Shocks to your sense of emotional security awaken your inner provocateur as Mars and Uranus clash!—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
15 June 2025
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But most Republicans remained silent, or accused Padilla of being a provocateur.—
James Rainey,
Los Angeles Times,
13 June 2025
Noun
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So members of Congress, and President Trump, too, have leverage that demagogues who preceded them could only dream of.—
Jelani Cobb,
New Yorker,
25 May 2025
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That nearly half of Romanians supported a populist demagogue who questions Romania's commitments to the European Union and NATO is a major crack in Europe's democratic wall.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Incendiary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incendiary. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.
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