Meaning & use
firestorm
Last updated
An intense, fast-spreading fire, or, figuratively, a sudden burst of strong public reaction or criticism.
See it in a sentence
The wildfire grew into a firestorm that jumped the highway within minutes.
The senator's comment sparked a firestorm of criticism on social media.
A note on using this word
The figurative sense (public outrage) is now at least as common as the literal fire sense in everyday news writing.
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “firestorm”, then compare your use with the examples above.
Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.