fiery

adjective

fi·​ery ˈfī(-ə)-rē 

fierier; fieriest

1

a

: consisting of fire

fiery tongues playing about the roof of the burning building

b

: marked by fire

a fiery crash

c

: using or carried out with fire

the fiery experiments of the ancient alchemists

d

: liable to catch fire or explode : flammable

a fiery vapor

2

a

: hot like a fire

the fiery taste of red pepper

b(1)

: being in an inflamed state or condition

a fiery boil

(2)

: feverish and flushed

a fiery forehead

3

: of the color of fire : red

a fiery sunset

4

a

: full of or exuding emotion or spirit

a fiery sermon

b

: easily provoked : irritable

a fiery temper

fierily

ˈfī-rə-lē 

adverb

fieriness

ˈfī-rē-nəs 

noun

fiery adverb

Synonyms of fiery

• blazing
• burning
• flaming
• smoldering
• flickering

Examples of fiery in a Sentence

He was killed in a fiery crash.

the fiery Yule log made a splendid backdrop for our holiday party

Recent Examples on the Web

His testimony was possibly overshadowed by a fiery cross-examination. — Penny Kmitt, CBS News, 4 Nov. 2026

But many of its test flights so far have ended in fiery explosions; its next test, Flight 15, is slated for mid-November. — Ramin Skibba, Scientific American, 4 Nov. 2026

Bystander video showed a fiery crater gouged into Military Trail, a major highway, with the pavement buckled and shattered around the wreckage. — Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 3 Nov. 2026

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said Monday there were indications the jet was breaking apart before the fiery wreck and that investigators were zeroing in on weather conditions being a major factor in the incident. — Ryan Gaydos Outkick, FOXNews.com, 3 Nov. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from fire, fier fire

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for fiery

• diary
• friary
• priory

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Kids Definition

fiery

adjective

fi·​ery ˈfī-(ə-)rē 

fierier; fieriest

1

: being on fire : blazing

2

: hot or glowing like a fire

3

a

: full of spirit

a fiery speech

b

: easily set off

a fiery temper

fieriness noun