fire 1 of 2

noun

ˈfī(-ə)r How to pronounce fire (audio)
Definition of firenext
1
as in inferno
a destructive burning a number of suspicious fires in the neighborhood recently

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2
as in intensity
depth of feeling had she the fire in her heart that a run for the White House requires?

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in ordeal
a test of faith, patience, or strength asked to be sent to the front lines, as he was eager to prove himself in the fire of battle

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fire

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to shoot
to cause (a projectile) to be driven forward with force police officers firing rubber bullets

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2
as in to blast
to cause a weapon to release a missile with great force soldiers fired at the enemy in panic-stricken disorder

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3
as in to stimulate
to give life, vigor, or spirit to a school outing to the natural history museum fired his imagination, and he grew up to become an eminent paleontologist

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to sack
to let go from office, service, or employment fired the secretary for incompetence

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to throw
to send through the air especially with a quick forward motion of the arm fired a pass to the running back

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6
as in to burn
to set (something) on fire lit some kindling before attempting to fire the logs

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of fire
Noun
Smoke rises from a fire at a large warehouse storing car tires and wheels following a Russian strike in the Bucha district on August 29, 2026 in Kyiv, Ukraine. — Sam Meredith, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026 If a battery is swollen, leaking, unusually hot or has an odor, the battery may be damaged and could start a fire, Sylvia said. — Madison Smalstig, Sacbee.com, 31 Aug. 2026
Verb
During Parcells’ reign over the Dolphins, players who made a costly error on game day often showed up for work the next day to find out they were fired. — Omar Kelly august 30, Miami Herald, 30 Aug. 2026 Aargau Cantonal Police said one person was killed and five others were wounded after shots were fired at the event in the town of Aarau, a scenic area known for its lush valleys, medieval castles and thermal springs. — Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fire
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fire
  1. inferno
  2. intensity
  3. ordeal
  4. shoot
  5. blast
  6. stimulate
  7. sack
  8. throw
Noun
  • Gunshots followed by an inferno Police responded to the home on Sunday evening and heard gunshots coming from out back, just before the house was completely engulfed in flames.
    — Matthew Brown, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Hiding underneath a desk in a classroom was an 8-foot python, which fire officials say started the inferno.
    — Minyvonne Burke, NBC news, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of inferno
Noun
  • Thom’s uncomfortable intensity carries over to Hamburger Hamlet, where the tension between the couple finally reaches a breaking point.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The tool kit suggests states use concurrent review to compare delivered hours against authorized hours and test whether intensity still tracks progress.
    — JP Montoya, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of intensity
Noun
  • There were long lines at gas pumps, turning each fill-up into an ordeal.
    — Dasha Litvinova, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026
  • McCoy has transformed his ordeal into a testimonial on faith and the power of prayer.
    — Jan Thacker, Outdoor Life, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of ordeal
Verb
  • Initially, responding officers believed one person had been shot, but more 911 calls came in reporting there was additional gunfire.
    — Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 3 Sep. 2026
  • It was shot after dark and follows the cast through the streets, waterfronts, cars and bridges of New York City.
    — Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of shoot
Verb
  • When asked about the different decisions by map apps, the White House responded by blasting Canada.
    — Queenie Wong, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Fowlkes spoke to employees, who said during a recorded conversation that company higher-ups have told them to blast the music.
    — Saleen Martin, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of blast
Verb
  • Chan’s parents always treated their back pain from laborious food industry jobs with acupuncture and cupping, the practice of using cups or suction on the skin to stimulate blood flow and the flow of chi, or energy.
    — Cara Kelly, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Featured in over-the-counter topical products, the vitamin A derivative is found ubiquitously in anti-aging skin-care products, selected for its ability to increase cell turnover and stimulate collagen.
    — Ellie Davis, Vogue, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of stimulate
Verb
  • But as his career was sacked, as television pundits continued to make personal attacks, and as 986 people were killed by police in 2017, Kaepernick stayed largely quiet.
    — Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Craig was sacked three times and once UNC started keying on the run, the Horned Frogs struggled to match the Tar Heels’ physicality.
    — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of sack
Verb
  • Pintaro throws a cutter that Houston’s coaching staff thought would match up well with Wade’s swing.
    — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Fletcher and Takeshita threw hands in the middle of the ring to the delight of Wembley Stadium.
    — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of throw

Phrases Containing fire

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fins
fire
fire and brimstone
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Cite this Entry

“Fire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fire. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on fire

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fire

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