1
2
as in firebrand
a person who stirs up public feelings especially of discontent
blamed the protests on outside incendiaries who were intent on overthrowing the government
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in provocative
tending to excite political disorder or insurrection
recklessly made incendiary remarks during a period of heightened racial tensions
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of incendiary
Bill Reinhard, New York Daily News, 26 Jan. 2024
The fire marshal’s investigation indicated that the cause of the fire, which started in an interior hallway, was an incendiary.
—Aegis Staff Report, Baltimore Sun, 23 Jan. 2024
Tyler Jenke, Billboard, 6 Mar. 2025
The most recent fire, of which the firemen and the owners of the property have no doubt of its origin being incendiary, was the one which, early Friday morning, destroyed the Hilliard Brothers marble works.
—The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, arkansasonline.com, 1 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for incendiary
Noun
Aiyuk is the next incendiary to go off, especially if Deebo Samuel can’t go.
—Bill Reinhard, New York Daily News, 26 Jan. 2024
The fire marshal’s investigation indicated that the cause of the fire, which started in an interior hallway, was an incendiary.
—Aegis Staff Report, Baltimore Sun, 23 Jan. 2024
Adjective
Australian musician Nick Cave has always been full of surprises, from his incendiary live performances as the singer of The Birthday Party in the early ‘80s, to collaborating with Kylie Minogue as leader of Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds.
—Tyler Jenke, Billboard, 6 Mar. 2025
The most recent fire, of which the firemen and the owners of the property have no doubt of its origin being incendiary, was the one which, early Friday morning, destroyed the Hilliard Brothers marble works.
—The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, arkansasonline.com, 1 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for incendiary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incendiary
Noun
-
So far, at least, the villagers have not tried to storm the castle with flaming torches in protest.—
Greg Engle,
Forbes,
11 Mar. 2025
-
As far as the history of hockey can be written in St. Paul, it might as well have been announced that the Statue of Liberty no longer has a torch or that the faces on Mount Rushmore have been scrubbed off by the wind.—
Joe Soucheray,
Twin Cities,
10 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The new firebrand of an acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia promises to bring sweeping changes to how the nation’s capital uses the city’s prosecutorial tools.—
Emily Hallas,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
9 Mar. 2025
-
The firebrand Houston lawmaker’s colleagues voted 224-198 to hit him with what amounts to a slap on the wrist over his cane-waving interruption of Trump on Tuesday night.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Relocating to Shanghai, the provocative brand quickly built a name for boundary-pushing, body-skimming and altering designs.—
Gemma A. Williams,
Forbes,
9 Mar. 2025
-
Starring Sul Kyung-gu, Jang Dong-gun, Kim Hee-ae and Claudia Kim, the provocative Korean drama follows a wealthy lawyer, who decides to defend a killer, being confronted by his righteous brother over a heated dinner conversation.—
J. Kim Murphy,
Variety,
7 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The coming-of-age film tells the story of Ren (Bacon), a teen rebel who moves to a small Southern town that has outlawed dancing for religious reasons.—
Toria Sheffield,
People.com,
8 Mar. 2025
-
Besides, the Caribbean strife was thwarting trade and endangering American lives and livelihoods in the region. McKinley, sympathetic toward the rebels but not wanting war with Spain, dispatched a prominent Illinois trial lawyer to Cuba to study the situation and report back.—
Robert W. Merry,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The inflammatory period after an injury is naturally longer in older adults, making wound healing slower.7 10.—
Angelica Bottaro,
Verywell Health,
11 Mar. 2025
-
At his confirmation hearing, Makary said some ingredients cause a chronic, low-grade inflammatory reaction in the gastrointestinal tract.—
David Hilzenrath,
CBS News,
7 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
While Syria's new rulers -- led by the Islamist former insurgent group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham -- have pursued IS cells since taking power, some fear a breakdown in overall security that could allow the group to stage a resurgence.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
15 Mar. 2025
-
Turkey, a close ally of Mr. al-Shara’s rebel group, has for years sought to curb the power of the Syrian Democratic Forces, maintaining that the militia is linked to Kurdish separatist insurgents inside Turkey.—
Raja Abdulrahim,
New York Times,
25 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
While some men are jumping on board, the most popular of these creators—which range from nobodies doing voiceovers to far-right provocateurs like Candance Owens and Megyn Kelly—are women speaking to other women.—
Stephanie McNeal,
Glamour,
14 Mar. 2025
-
The skepticism had some basis—Gaga really did borrow from musical provocateurs before her (the foremost being, yes, Madonna).—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
10 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
And so political leaders, demagogues in particular, can provide simple answers to things that seem very complicated and that stir people in a way that can be directed.—
Sean Illing,
Vox,
22 Feb. 2025
-
That’s classically how a demagogue works and how a demagogue becomes a tyrant.—
Sean Illing,
Vox,
22 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Incendiary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incendiary. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share