firebrands
Stir up trouble
Firebrands are pieces of burning wood, especially ones used to start fires elsewhere.
The word extends to people who stir up trouble or passionately advocate for change—agitators who ignite political or social movements: The young firebrands called for revolution.
The metaphor captures how one burning piece can set larger fires ablaze.
One who stirs dissent
- provocateurOne who deliberately incites
- instigatorOne who provokes action
- demagogueManipulative populist leader
- radicalRoot-indicating symbol
revolutionary · activist · troublemaker · dissident · stirrer · fomenter · pamphleteer · polemicist
Handheld burning light source
- emberGlowing coal fragment
- flameBurning gas made visible
- kindleStart a blaze
- igniteStart burning something
blaze · scorch · char · smolder · combustible · conflagration · arson · inferno
Intense driving devotion
- fervorIntense emotional intensity
- ardorIntense emotional warmth
- intensityStrength or force level
- enthusiasmIntense eager enjoyment
spirit · vigor · drive · conviction · dedication · devotion · energy · heat
rabble-rouser
One who stirs dissent
- provocateurOne who deliberately incites
- instigatorOne who provokes action
- demagogueManipulative populist leader
radical · revolutionary · activist · troublemaker · dissident · stirrer · fomenter · pamphleteer · polemicist · organizer
torch
Handheld burning light source
ignite · blaze · scorch · char · smolder · combustible · conflagration · arson · inferno · bonfire
zeal
Intense driving devotion
enthusiasm · spirit · vigor · drive · conviction · dedication · devotion · energy · heat · burning desire
- reformersreformers, reformer, social reformers, social reformer, political reformer
- noisemakersnoisemaker, air horn, bell, buzzer, kazoo
- fire byproductssmoke, soot, ash, embers, char
- wake-up thingsalarm clocks, roosters, coffee, espresso, caffeine
- opinion makerspundits, commentators, columnists, editorialists, op-ed writers
- Political Groupsfaction, Republican Party, caucus, Democratic Party, wing
firebrandsmoderates
Reduces intensity or extremity
centrists · compromisers · fence-sitters · middle-of-the-roaders · pragmatists
firebrandspeacemakers
Those who resolve conflicts
conciliators · mediators · bridge-builders · unifiers · diplomats