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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
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
Chloe Mayer, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 June 2025
Soliman is being held on $10,000,000 bond, according to the Boulder County Jail, which listed a range of felony charges against him, including use of an incendiary device.
—Leah Sarnoff, ABC News, 2 June 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
Eight people were injured after a man hurled makeshift incendiary devices into a crowd at a pro-Israel event in Boulder, Colorado, on Sunday.
—Chloe Mayer, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 June 2025
Soliman is being held on $10,000,000 bond, according to the Boulder County Jail, which listed a range of felony charges against him, including use of an incendiary device.
—Leah Sarnoff, ABC News, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for incendiary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incendiary
Noun
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My mom rocked her plain white canvas sneakers through her four years at Michigan State University (that's her in the picture on the day the Olympic torch was run through the MSU campus in 1984).—
Chaunie Brusie,
Parents,
2 June 2025
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The catalyst for some mysterious events is the original Green Lantern, a hero introduced in 1940, who still carries a torch for his first love, Johnny Ladd.—
George Gene Gustines,
New York Times,
1 June 2025
Noun
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The audience lapped up everything this firebrand 5-foot-tall Indian auntie had to say.—
Sarah Khan,
New York Times,
29 May 2025
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Even in a ruby red Georgia community represented by conservative firebrand and immigration hardliner Marjorie Taylor Greene in Congress, Arias Cristobal's arrest has made many uneasy.—
May 14,
CBS News,
14 May 2025
Adjective
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There are some sweet crushes, but nothing provocative at all.—
Lynnette Nicholas,
Parents,
12 June 2025
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Environmental and natural resource lawyer Rebecca Sokol argued in favor of such indirect, behavioral strategies, in a provocative 2020 paper, and agrees with Paz’s assessment.—
Sarah Scoles,
JSTOR Daily,
11 June 2025
Noun
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Iran has also for years militarily and financially supported regional militia groups, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, Houthi rebels in Yemen and Hamas in Gaza, that have pressured or attacked Israel on multiple fronts.—
Kim Hjelmgaard,
USA Today,
14 June 2025
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Worried about Michilimackinac’s vulnerability to attacks by American rebels, the British relocated the fort to the high bluffs of Mackinac Island in 1780 and shortened its name.—
Sarah Kuta,
Smithsonian Magazine,
9 June 2025
Adjective
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Chief Justice John Roberts must strongly rebuke Trump, Miller, Leavitt, and any other members of the Trump regime who use inflammatory language against federal judges.—
Robert B. Reich,
Hartford Courant,
3 June 2025
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The outlet is known for reporting inflammatory stories that often have little regard for facts and accuracy, including that the 2012 massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School was staged to promote a liberal agenda.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
30 May 2025
Noun
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Authorities have also reported sightings of ELN guerrillas, a Colombian-Venezuelan insurgent faction, operating near key Guyanese border towns.—
Antonio Maria Delgado,
Miami Herald,
6 June 2025
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Spain approved the deal on Oct. 3, 2023, four days before an insurgent assault led by Hamas on southern Israel that sparked a devastating war in Gaza.—
Brittany Williams,
Arkansas Online,
4 June 2025
Noun
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Of all the larger-than-life agitators and provocateurs to come out of Flint, Michigan, in the past few years, he’s become one of the best rappers of the bunch.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
6 June 2025
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Laura Loomer, a right-wing provocateur and conspiracy theorist, saw an opportunity to position herself as the voice of reason.—
Chris Megerian,
Chicago Tribune,
6 June 2025
Noun
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It can be applied to any of a number of demagogues including President Trump.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
30 May 2025
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Their picks examine the power of demagogues, the injustices of the immigration system, the reasons protest movements have failed, and the fear of others.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
28 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Incendiary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incendiary. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
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