Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of noun barnburner

2 senses of barnburner

Sense 1
barnburner -- (someone who burns down a barn)
       => arsonist, incendiary, firebug -- (a criminal who illegally sets fire to property)

Sense 2
barnburner -- (an impressively successful event; "the rock concert was a real barnburner")
       => success -- (an event that accomplishes its intended purpose; "let's call heads a success and tails a failure"; "the election was a remarkable success for the Whigs")