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
Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 27 Jan. 2025
One upshot was Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996, which to this day insulates social media from legal liability for the content — however incendiary or scurrilous — that users post.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 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
Podcasters, partisans, or anyone, really, can tell outrageous, incendiary lies about a candidate.
—Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 27 Jan. 2025
One upshot was Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996, which to this day insulates social media from legal liability for the content — however incendiary or scurrilous — that users post.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for incendiary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incendiary
Noun
-
Chris Evans' Steve Rogers passed the proverbial torch and literal shield to Sam Wilson, portrayed by Anthony Mackie, after returning the Infinity Stones to their rightful place in time and space.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
12 Feb. 2025
-
Aside from the torch that never quite went out with Charlie, Ashley’s Pia gets set up on three dates with Asim Chaudhry’s heir, Phil Dunster’s (Ted Lasso, Surface) free-spirit and Nikesh Patel’s teacher.—
Dessi Gomez,
Deadline,
11 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
This year, the Super Bowl booked Compton firebrand Kendrick Lamar, offering a former award-show rabble-rouser an audience with President Trump in attendance.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
10 Feb. 2025
-
The conservative media firebrand's comments to Corriere della Sera about the tech billionaire whom Trump has tapped to co-lead the Department of Governmental Efficiency (DOGE) mark an escalation in a MAGA-world civil war over immigration as the president-elect prepares to begin his second term.—
April Rubin,
Axios,
20 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Lawyers for both sides have made provocative comments, divulged private communications and made public a slew of documents while defending their clients.—
Stacy Perman,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2025
-
The next fight As with most of Trump’s more provocative comments, his Gaza proposal was simultaneously derided and analyzed at home and abroad for hints of strategy.—
Rob Picheta,
CNN,
8 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Last week, a humanitarian ceasefire announced by M23 fell apart almost immediately after it was declared, as the rebels swiftly advanced into Nyabibwe.—
Nimi Princewill,
CNN,
12 Feb. 2025
-
Trump could also run into problems in Congress where the Republicans have only a slim majority in both the Senate and House, meaning a small number of GOP rebels could disrupt his plans.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
5 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
The Cardinals fired back at McDonough through inflammatory statements issued by public relations specialists.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
14 Feb. 2025
-
May Decrease Arthritis Pain Curcumin has been studied for its effects on pain in people with rheumatoid arthritis (a type of inflammatory arthritis).—
Amber J. Tresca,
Verywell Health,
10 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
The day was marked by mixed emotions as two of our volunteers, Samuel and Harut, learned that Syrian towns had fallen to insurgents after Bashar al-Assad's exit.—
Anders Fogh Rasmussen,
Newsweek,
4 Feb. 2025
-
In Mogadishu, Somalia, the State Department instructed security guards who were protecting an arms depot from insurgents to simply walk off the site, according to a company official.—
Brett Murphy,
ProPublica,
31 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Whether this signals a future collaboration between Poppy and Carpenter remains to be seen, but for now, the metal provocateur has put her own mark on one of the year’s biggest pop hits.—
Jessica Lynch,
Billboard,
7 Feb. 2025
-
Just last August, Kanye West’s former chief of staff and right-wing provocateur, Milo Yiannopoulos, alleged that West’s nitrous oxide addiction was costing the rapper more than $50,000 a month.—
Ben Dandridge-Lemco,
Rolling Stone,
29 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
Many Latines who are conservative in the U.S. come from countries where similar right-wing demagogues were elected in the last decade.—
Nicole Froio,
refinery29.com,
6 Nov. 2024
-
Trump’s statecraft is, in these respects, not the impulse of a misguided and capricious demagogue but an appropriate response to a changing world and a changing America.—
Charles A. Kupchan,
The Atlantic,
10 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near incendiary
Cite this Entry
“Incendiary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incendiary. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share