firestorm

or fire storm

[ fahyuhr-stawrm ]

noun

1. an atmospheric phenomenon, caused by a large fire, in which the rising column of air above the fire draws in strong winds often accompanied by rain.
2. a raging fire of great intensity, as one fueled by oil or gas, that spreads rapidly.

firestorm

/ ˈfaɪəˌstɔːm /

noun

1. an uncontrollable blaze sustained by violent winds that are drawn into the column of rising hot air over the burning area: often the result of heavy bombing

Word History and Origins

Origin of firestorm¹

First recorded in 1575–85; fire + storm

Example Sentences

The year was 1972, and a political firestorm had descended upon Miami Beach.

From Ozy

It has been scouring Oregon for the past two weeks and has led to atmospheric and weather changes like unpredictable winds and firestorms.

From Popular-Science

He said the altercation only caused such a firestorm because Wilson was involved, not because anything the forward did was egregious.

From Washington Post

Alas, the overwhelmed Smith mistakenly sent live smallpox to North Carolina in 1822, causing a small outbreak and a political firestorm.

From Washington Post

The tweet touched off a firestorm of parent complaints, with one father writing in a Washington Post op-ed that either schools should open or teachers should give up their priority for vaccinations.

From Vox

The tweet set off an Internet firestorm and was retweeted nearly 15,000 times in less than an hour.

From The Daily Beast

GOP staffer Elizabeth Lauten set off a firestorm after criticizing Sasha and Malia Obama.

From The Daily Beast

He now finds himself at the epic center of a firestorm having earlier been caught on camera throwing “liquids” at the police.

From The Daily Beast

When I finally got a chance to read the piece in question, I was somewhat surprised by the firestorm.

From The Daily Beast

The article sparked another firestorm in American and Israeli circles, with dueling accusations of betrayal and stabs-in-the-back.

From The Daily Beast