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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
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Recent Examples of incendiary
Brad Lendon, CNN, 7 Sep. 2024
But the only traditional incendiaries in the story are the radical Protestant preacher Anne Askew (Erin Doherty), a friend of Katherine’s, and Henry’s minion, Bishop Stephen Gardiner, played by an inquisitorial Simon Russell Beale.
—Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post, 14 June 2024
Literary Hub, 28 Jan. 2026
The British premiere also stars Aliyah Odoffin, Wilf Scolding, Ashley Thomas, and Lorraine Toussaint, examining an ambitious Black reporter who defies her editor to pursue an incendiary lead.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for incendiary
Noun
Ukrainian officers also accused Russia of using incendiaries in attacks on the city of Bakhmut last year.
—Brad Lendon, CNN, 7 Sep. 2024
But the only traditional incendiaries in the story are the radical Protestant preacher Anne Askew (Erin Doherty), a friend of Katherine’s, and Henry’s minion, Bishop Stephen Gardiner, played by an inquisitorial Simon Russell Beale.
—Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post, 14 June 2024
Adjective
What perhaps mattered more than the incendiary headlines or the sheer number of stories both tabloids immediately devoted to this event, however, was the misinformation each was also imparting to the public.
—Literary Hub, 28 Jan. 2026
The British premiere also stars Aliyah Odoffin, Wilf Scolding, Ashley Thomas, and Lorraine Toussaint, examining an ambitious Black reporter who defies her editor to pursue an incendiary lead.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for incendiary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incendiary
Noun
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Shortly after Gasthaus closed in April 2022, her daughter, Nina Greipel, carried the torch.—
Amanda Hancock,
Louisville Courier Journal,
10 Feb. 2026
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The cameras caught Casper hugging John Shuster in the immediate aftermath in what felt like a passing of the torch between the faces of the sport.—
Dane Mizutani,
Twin Cities,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The political firebrand’s career, spanning 46 years in City Hall, came to an end last month when newcomer Rolando Escalona won the District 3 seat that Carollo and his younger brother Frank had occupied since 2009.—
Tess Riski
January 30,
Miami Herald,
30 Jan. 2026
-
In the 1980s, right-wing firebrands such as Jerry Falwell and Anita Bryant claimed that the AIDS epidemic was a plague sent by God to punish gay people.—
Hillary Rodham Clinton,
The Atlantic,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Fennell is a polarizing filmmaker, with a self-consciously provocative streak.—
Hannah Jocelyn,
New Yorker,
13 Feb. 2026
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In her provocative new spin on Emily Brontë’s 1847 novel, the Oscar-winning filmmaker announces from the get-go that this isn’t your grandmother’s windswept Gothic romance.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Lucas’s focus on getting paid brings him in for the book’s harshest criticism; Fischer casts him as a rebel turned sellout.—
Michael O’Donnell,
The Atlantic,
10 Feb. 2026
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On the other hand, Bennu is the rebel — its glycine likely originated in frozen ice exposed to harsh radiation in the outer reaches of the solar system.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The signs range from friendly and funny to inflammatory.—
Taylor Seely,
AZCentral.com,
10 Feb. 2026
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Omega-3 fatty acids support heart, brain, and inflammatory health and are found naturally in fatty fish, such as salmon, or in supplement form.—
T'Keyah Bazin,
Verywell Health,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Progressive senators are wading into Democratic primaries across the country, at times breaking from their leaders to back more left-leaning or insurgent candidates — with the notable exception of Texas.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
10 Feb. 2026
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Those funds often backed far-right Republican insurgents.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The official channels to Censori have run through her husband’s company Yeezy, where Censori leads the architecture department, and through Milo Yiannopoulos, a far-right provocateur who had worked on Ye’s 2024 presidential campaign.—
Anna Peele,
Vanity Fair,
6 Feb. 2026
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There were right-wing provocateurs coming to town.—
Anne Applebaum,
The Atlantic,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
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From ancient sources philosophers and poets, democrats and demagogues, found justification for everything from anarchy to fascism, and there are reasons for both justifications.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Feb. 2026
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Without a robust legitimacy narrative, demagogues fill the vacuum.—
Annelise Riles,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Incendiary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incendiary. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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