[syn: instigator, provoker, inciter, instigant, firebrand]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Firebrand \Fire"brand`\, n.
1. A piece of burning wood. --L'Estrange.
[1913 Webster]
2. One who inflames factions, or causes contention and
mischief; an incendiary. --Bacon.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
firebrand
n 1: a piece of wood that has been burned or is burning [syn:
brand, firebrand]
2: someone who deliberately foments trouble; "she was the
instigator of their quarrel" [syn: instigator, provoker,
inciter, instigant, firebrand]
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:
91 Moby Thesaurus words for "firebrand":
Mafioso, Young Turk, agent provocateur, agitator, agitprop, beast,
beldam, berserk, berserker, bomber, brand, brute, burning ember,
butane lighter, catalyst, cigarette lighter, cinder, coal,
demagogue, demon, devil, dragon, ember, exciter, fiend, fire-eater,
flambeau, flint, flint and steel, fomenter, fury, goon, gorilla,
gunsel, hardnose, hell-raiser, hellcat, hellhound, hellion,
holy terror, hood, hoodlum, hothead, hotspur, igniter, incendiary,
inciter, inflamer, instigator, killer, light, lighter, live coal,
mad dog, madcap, mischief-maker, monster, mugger, portfire,
provocateur, provoker, rabble-rouser, rapist, revolutionary,
ringleader, rouser, savage, seditionary, seditionist, she-wolf,
sparker, spill, spitfire, taper, termagant, terror, terrorist,
tiger, tigress, torch, tough, tough guy, troublemaker,
ugly customer, urger, violent, virago, vixen, wild beast, witch,
wolf
Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary:
Firebrand
Isa. 7:4, Amos 4:11, Zech. 3:2, denotes the burnt end of a stick
(Heb. 'ud); in Judg. 15:4, a lamp or torch, a flambeau (Heb.
lappid); in Prov. 26:18 (comp. Eph. 6:16), burning darts or
arrows (Heb. zikkim).