firing (up)

verb

Definition of firing (up)next
present participle of fire (up)
as in provoking
to rouse to strong feeling or action the dynamic speaker fired up the audience as no one had previously done

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for firing (up)
  1. provoking
  2. encouraging
  3. stimulating
  4. stirring
Verb
  • This year's Ig Nobel Prizes — which are awarded for humorous, yet thought-provoking research — have been announced, but not on their home turf.
    — Ari Daniel, NPR, 3 Sep. 2026
  • But not all of Mustard Service’s songs are meant to be so thought-provoking.
    — Charles Moss, SPIN, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of provoking
Verb
  • When the east Texas oilfield was discovered in the interwar years, gasoline prices fell sharply, incentivizing bigger engines and vehicles, while encouraging longer journeys.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2026
  • By taking stem cells from a host’s own body and encouraging them to differentiate before mixing them with a commercially available, soluble matrix gel, researchers may have cracked the most critical problems in the transplant process.
    — Mike McRae September 02, New Atlas, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of encouraging
Verb
  • Protein may also support weight loss by slowing digestion and stimulating the release of hormones that promote feelings of fullness and satiety.
    — Jillian Kubala, HEALTH, 1 Sep. 2026
  • While stimulating a fresh sense of observation, Selwyn also wanted to counter some myths about museums.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of stimulating
Verb
  • Simmer the pasta in the sauce, gently stirring and tossing occasionally, until the pasta is al dente.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Add tomato paste; cook, stirring often, until darkened in color, 2 to 4 minutes.
    — Erin Merhar, Southern Living, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of stirring
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.

Browse Nearby Words

firing squads
firing (up)
firkin
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Cite this Entry

“Firing (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/firing%20%28up%29. Accessed 6 Sep. 2026.

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