firestorm
noun
fire·storm
ˈfī(-ə)r-ˌstȯrm 
1
: a very intense and destructive fire usually accompanied by high winds
The Rooses' house and gardens were obliterated in the 1991 Oakland firestorm.—
Craig Summers Black
Craig Summers Black
especially
: one that is started by attack with nuclear or incendiary weapons and that creates a powerful updraft which causes very strong inrushing winds to develop in the surrounding area
His goal was to create firestorms like the ones that had consumed Hamburg and Dresden, conflagrations so vast and intense that nothing could survive them … —David M. Kennedy
David M. Kennedy 2
a
: a sudden or violent outburst
a firestorm of public protest
b
: a raging controversy
a political firestorm
Synonyms
Examples of firestorm in a Sentence
The bombing left the city engulfed in a firestorm.
His proposal set off a political firestorm.
a firestorm of public protest
Recent Examples on the Web
This news comes on the heels of a social media firestorm where, after years of criticism for not paying small artists enough, the streaming giant came under scrutiny again following a post by its CEO, Daniel Elk.
—Julia Daye, Miami Herald, 3 June 2024
But, at each turn, the Russian president avoided any major public moves that could have been seen as validating the criticism, keeping his defense minister and top general in place through the firestorm while shuffling battlefield commanders and making other moves lower on the chain.
—Anatoly Kurmanaev, New York Times, 26 May 2024
The latest political firestorm involving the justices erupted last week after the New York Times published its first report on the upside down American flag seen outside Alito's Virginia residence in early 2021.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 24 May 2024
After passing a statement calling for peace in the Middle East, Doral political leaders scrambled to douse the firestorm the purely symbolic resolution sparked in their own backyard.
—Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 22 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for firestorm 
Julia Daye, Miami Herald, 3 June 2024
But, at each turn, the Russian president avoided any major public moves that could have been seen as validating the criticism, keeping his defense minister and top general in place through the firestorm while shuffling battlefield commanders and making other moves lower on the chain.
—Anatoly Kurmanaev, New York Times, 26 May 2024
The latest political firestorm involving the justices erupted last week after the New York Times published its first report on the upside down American flag seen outside Alito's Virginia residence in early 2021.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 24 May 2024
After passing a statement calling for peace in the Middle East, Doral political leaders scrambled to douse the firestorm the purely symbolic resolution sparked in their own backyard.
—Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 22 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for firestorm
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'firestorm.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Firestorm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/firestorm. Accessed 6 Jun. 2024.
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