Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

barnburner

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.39 in modern English

Syllables: barn-burn-er
IPA

14

Scrabble Score

10

Letters

3

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

One who burns down a barn.

noun

Synonym of phosphorus match, a friction match that can be struck anywhere.

Slang

noun

A sensationally exciting or successful event or person.

noun

A member of the radical section of the Democratic party in New York, around the middle of the 19th century, which was hostile to extension of slavery, public debts, corporate privileges, etc., and supported Van Buren against Cass for president in 1848.

American usage; Slang

Example Sentences

"Those deathless twin barnburners return to the Metropolitan Opera tonight."
"It is hard to know what could convince the barnburners to change their ways. The Maga base rewards them with money and the media lavishes them with airtime."

Etymology

From barn + burner. In exaggerated use, from the hyperbolic idea of someone burning down a barn to end a rat infestation.

Usage

Slang
American usage

Inflected Forms

barnburners (plural) barn burner (alternative) barn-burner (alternative)

Frequently Paired Words

barnstormer cliffhanger

Synonyms

phosphorus match

Antonyms

Hunker

Questions

What does barnburner mean?: One who burns down a barn.
Where does barnburner come from?: From barn + burner. In exaggerated use, from the hyperbolic idea of someone burning down a barn to end a rat infestation.

How to pronounce barnburner

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