💨 Air mover 🔥 One who stirs conflict

fanner

7.4

A person who causes anger or arguments between people

noun
/ˈfænər/

: instigador

Limbaugh is a professional flame-fanner.

Examples

The politician was known as a fanner of discord, frequently stirring up tensions between rival groups.
His reputation as a fanner of controversy made him a polarizing figure in the media.
Fanners with this almanac knowledge were able to make smarter choices about which type of seeds to plant and when to take preventive measures against potential frost and drought conditions.

Academic text (2011)
As a fanner of public sentiment, she used social media to rally support for her cause.

Synonyms

troublemaker

vsfanner

Offensive

69 4.1

A person who causes problems for other people on purpose

focuses more on encouraging emotion and activity rather than causing practical harm

provocateur

vsfanner

14 8.8

A person who on purpose causes trouble or makes others do wrong

aims chiefly to inflame feelings or activity rather than force actions

instigator

vsfanner

12 6.8

A person who starts trouble or urges others to act

encourages feelings or activity rather than directly starting actions

rabble-rouser

vsfanner

Literature

6 8.5

A person who makes a crowd angry or excited about politics

works across contexts to encourage feelings or conflict not only crowds

baiter

vsfanner

Slang

4 8.1

A person who tries to annoy others online or in conversation

aims to stir wider group feelings or activity rather than targeting individuals

hatemonger

vsfanner

Offensive

3 9.6

A person who tries to make others feel strong dislike and anger toward a group

focuses broadly on strong feelings or conflict not only hatred

disturber

vsfanner

2 6.5

A person who interrupts people by making noise or causing trouble

is more about actively encouraging strong feelings and conflict rather than mere disorder

mischief-maker

vsfanner

2 6.0

A person who causes small trouble by playing tricks or starting gossip

is more intent on stirring serious strong feelings or conflict than play

provoker

vsfanner

1 7.5

A person who starts trouble on purpose to make others react

prefers to stir feelings and build activity rather than directly causing acts

stirrer

vsfanner

Offensive

1 7.3

A person who spreads gossip to start arguments

uses broader encouragement of strong feelings rather than relying on rumors

fire-eater

vsfanner

Offensive

1 8.8

A person who speaks angrily and likes to start political arguments

more about provoking others feelings and actions rather than personal aggression

instigant

vsfanner

9.9

A person who on purpose makes others start trouble or fight

focuses on encouraging feelings and activity rather than inciting events

fomenter

vsfanner

Formal

9.8

A person who causes political trouble by encouraging others to act against the government

acts more generally to encourage strong feelings or activity beyond politics

inflamer

vsfanner

8.9

A person who says things that make people angry or start fights

is broader encouraging strong feelings and activity beyond public controversy

troubler

vsfanner

7.4

A person who causes problems by starting arguments or fights

aims to encourage passionate reactions or activity rather than only causing disturbance

drama monger

vsfanner

Offensive

8.9

A person who makes small problems into big arguments

focuses on stirring wider feelings or actions rather than personal dramatics

fire-breather

vsfanner

Offensive

8.0

A person who says things that make people angry or afraid

may instead encourage emotion through many means not only aggressive speech

scandalmonger

vsfanner

Offensive

9.9

A person who spreads harmful gossip about others to attract attention

encourages strong feelings or conflict in many ways not only gossip

needler

vsfanner

8.2

A person who teases others with comments meant to annoy

may instead encourage larger scale feelings or conflict beyond teasing

tensioner

vsfanner

7.6

A person who causes stress or arguments in a group

is broader aiming to stir active feelings or open conflict not only tension

total crazymaker

vsfanner

Informal

9.5

A person who often causes trouble and drama for others

aims to encourage strong feelings or conflict rather than just causing chaos

Surface Forms

fanner singular

fanners plural

Morphology

fanner = fan (semi-transparent) = fan + er

Derived from the verb 'fan' in a figurative/idiomatic sense ('fan the flames'); learners must know this verbal meaning to derive the sense.

Etymology

The word fanner in this sense comes from the verb fan, as in 'fan the flames', where you blow on a fire to make it grow. So a fanner of anger or controversy is someone who 'stirs up' feelings and makes them stronger.