# fire-and-brimstone

CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fire-and-brimstone
Updated: 2026-07-29

## Definition

Threats of punishment or damnation, especially in stern moralising or preaching.

For teachers: The rhetoric of divine punishment and damnation — vivid warnings of hellfire; often used attributively, as in a fire-and-brimstone sermon or preacher.

## Examples

- The old preacher was famous for his fire-and-brimstone sermons.
- She expected a fire-and-brimstone lecture from her father, but he simply looked disappointed.
- The campaign traded its early fire-and-brimstone rhetoric for a calmer tone once the strategists realised that threats were costing it moderate voters.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.