flame war
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of flame war
First recorded in 1985–90
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.
The controversy resulting from the Instagram posts started off like any other social media flame war.
From New York Times • Apr. 17, 2019
Just as important: Okja is a masterpiece that could draw a flame war, and has.
From The Verge • Jun. 26, 2017
On some corners of the Internet, it's a full-on flame war.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2017
That’s the kicker of the latest editorial cartoon by First Dog on the Moon for the Guardian, which satirizes the flame war between Pope Francis and Donald Trump.
From The Guardian • Feb. 19, 2016
Some subthreads will actually be in response to some off-the-cuff side comment, possibly degenerating into a flame war, or just as often evolving into a separate discussion.
From The Jargon File, Version 4.2.2, 20 Aug 2000 by Steele, Guy L.
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.