firebrand
Americannoun
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a piece of burning wood or other material.
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a person who kindles strife or encourages unrest; an agitator; troublemaker.
noun
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a piece of burning or glowing wood or other material
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a person who causes unrest or is very energetic
Etymology
Origin of firebrand
Middle English word dating back to 1175–1225; see origin at fire, brand
Explanation
When someone is known for being wildly devoted to a cause or idea, they're called a firebrand. A firebrand enjoys pushing buttons and stirring up passions. Firebrand isn't such a tough word to remember if you think of that person's "brand" being "fiery." Someone who enjoys heating up the debate around a subject or lighting a fire under other people is a firebrand. "Fire" is their "brand." Firebrands come in all shapes and sizes: conservative, liberal, militant, creative. Anyone who takes a strong, provocative stance and challenges people with heated rhetoric might be labeled a firebrand. All it takes is guts and a willingness to stir things up.
Vocabulary lists containing firebrand
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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100 SAT Words Beginning with "F"
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"Black Ships Before Troy," Vocabulary from the myth
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Firebrand, which sits in an industrial estate not far from the wilds of Bodmin Moor in Launceston, Cornwall, reflects a much wider trend.
From BBC • Feb. 15, 2024
"The main reason is Catherine Parr and the fact that nothing had been made about her of relevance," he told Reuters ahead of the premiere of "Firebrand" at the Cannes Film Festival.
From Reuters • May 21, 2023
In 2008, the hedge funds Harbinger Capital Partners and Firebrand Partners told the company they intended to nominate four independent directors to the publisher’s board.
From New York Times • Aug. 11, 2022
“We see a lot more people make the shift away from traditional retirement with people looking to work in their 60s and 70s,” said Amy Barnes, owner of Seattle’s Firebrand Wealth Management.
From Seattle Times • May 29, 2020
I lost sight of the Firebrand and took it for granted she had been blown up.
From Sea-Hounds by Freeman, Lewis R.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
