firestorm

American  

[fahyuhr-stawrm] / ˈfaɪərˌstɔrm /

Or fire storm

noun

1. an atmospheric phenomenon, caused by a large fire, in which the rising column of air above the fire draws in strong winds often accompanied by rain.

2. a raging fire of great intensity, as one fueled by oil or gas, that spreads rapidly.

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firestorm British  

/ ˈfaɪəˌstɔːm /

noun

1. an uncontrollable blaze sustained by violent winds that are drawn into the column of rising hot air over the burning area: often the result of heavy bombing

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Etymology

Origin of firestorm

First recorded in 1575–85; fire + storm

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

firestorm

Yet the car crash involving San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan generated a firestorm far from the Palo Alto street where he collided with an SUV on July 14.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026

That set off a firestorm of comments about whether or not Grantham was a hypocrite.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 29, 2026

But the worst of the firestorm appears now to be behind the company.

From Barron's ● Jun. 10, 2026

The firestorm erupted in February when hospital operator PeaceHealth tried to replace Eugene Emergency Physicians with Atlanta-based ApolloMD at a Eugene-area hospital.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 14, 2026

I had wanted to get us out of the water two hours before, but we kept hearing the sound of falling trees and the crackling remnants of the terrible firestorm.

From "The Darkest Minds" by Alexandra Bracken