fired back; firing back; fires back
: to answer someone quickly and usually angrily
After his statement, his opponents fired back.
—often used with atShe fired back at her critics.
: to utter as a quick and angry response
He fired back a comparable insult …—
Drew T. Brown III
Drew T. Brown IIIExamples of fireback in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2025
There’s also a cast iron fireback in the fireplace in the living room.
—Joanne Kempinger Demski, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 26 May 2022
Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 22 May 2026
Why Mark Ruffalo fired back Mark Ruffalo has been outspoken about forever chemicals for years, most notably after starring in Dark Waters, the movie based on DuPont’s toxic PFOA pollution scandal.
—Ryan Brennan
may 20, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 May 2026
Natalie Neysa Alund Cuba's President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez fired back at the Justice Department for indicting Castro on Wednesday, saying the country acted in self defense in the more than three-decade-old killings.
—Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 20 May 2026
After holding the fire back early Tuesday, the blaze picked up again in the afternoon, increasing in size by more than 300 acres and crossing Albertson Fire Road to the south before firefighters got a handle on it again.
—Nathaniel Percy, Daily News, 20 May 2026
Griffin fired back at Mamdani, threatening to alter plans for his company’s new office tower in Manhattan.
—Steve Kopack, NBC news, 20 May 2026
In 2025, Trump hit Chinese goods with steep tariffs, and Beijing fired back by restricting exports of rare earths—a group of minerals used in everything from iPhones to fighter jets that China dominates the global supply of.
—Alicia Park, Forbes.com, 14 May 2026
Smith, obviously, wasn't going to let that go without firing back.
—Dan Zaksheske Outkick, FOXNews.com, 7 May 2026
Draymond fired back on his podcast, and Rivers has since responded.
—Zach Harper, New York Times, 7 May 2026
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Noun
The head was followed by bright yellowish-orange tail feathers, easily identifiable as the fireback.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2025
There’s also a cast iron fireback in the fireplace in the living room.
—Joanne Kempinger Demski, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 26 May 2022
Verb
Nobody screams or yells; the Marsies just fire back, and M-6 troops continue to fire in response.
—Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 22 May 2026
Why Mark Ruffalo fired back Mark Ruffalo has been outspoken about forever chemicals for years, most notably after starring in Dark Waters, the movie based on DuPont’s toxic PFOA pollution scandal.
—Ryan Brennan
may 20, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 May 2026
Natalie Neysa Alund Cuba's President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez fired back at the Justice Department for indicting Castro on Wednesday, saying the country acted in self defense in the more than three-decade-old killings.
—Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 20 May 2026
After holding the fire back early Tuesday, the blaze picked up again in the afternoon, increasing in size by more than 300 acres and crossing Albertson Fire Road to the south before firefighters got a handle on it again.
—Nathaniel Percy, Daily News, 20 May 2026
Griffin fired back at Mamdani, threatening to alter plans for his company’s new office tower in Manhattan.
—Steve Kopack, NBC news, 20 May 2026
In 2025, Trump hit Chinese goods with steep tariffs, and Beijing fired back by restricting exports of rare earths—a group of minerals used in everything from iPhones to fighter jets that China dominates the global supply of.
—Alicia Park, Forbes.com, 14 May 2026
Smith, obviously, wasn't going to let that go without firing back.
—Dan Zaksheske Outkick, FOXNews.com, 7 May 2026
Draymond fired back on his podcast, and Rivers has since responded.
—Zach Harper, New York Times, 7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fireback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fireback. Accessed 26 May. 2026.
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