fireback

1 of 2

noun

fire·​back ˈfī(-ə)r-ˌbak How to pronounce fireback (audio)
: an often decorated cast-iron plate lining the back wall of a fireplace

fire back

2 of 2

verb

fired back; firing back; fires back

intransitive verb

: to answer someone quickly and usually angrily
After his statement, his opponents fired back.
often used with at
She fired back at her critics.

transitive verb

: to utter as a quick and angry response
He fired back a comparable insult …Drew T. Brown III

Examples of fireback in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
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
Trump fired back by accusing Merz of being soft on Iran’s nuclear program, even though Merz has said Iran must not obtain a nuclear weapon. Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 14 June 2026 When revelations of alleged misconduct in New Britain city government while Stewart was mayor began to become public in April, Stewart, still a leading Republican candidate for governor fired back. Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 13 June 2026 Baldoni and his Wayfarer Studios allies fired back with a defamation suit, accusing Lively of manufacturing false claims of harassment in order to seize control of the film. Gene Maddaus, Variety, 12 June 2026 The Board fired back through commissioner Samantha Steele, who told Axios the cuts were necessary because the assessor had overvalued the properties to begin with. Dara-Abasi Ita, Forbes.com, 10 June 2026 California fired back, adopting a map via ballot measure last November that would give Democrats five more House seats. The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 9 June 2026 Hochul fired back at Homan in a post on X, which the governor’s office referred CNBC to after being asked for comment about the border czar’s remarks. Dan Mangan, CNBC, 9 June 2026 Fifield fired back at the New York Times in an X post on Friday for downplaying the story. Britta Miller, The Washington Examiner, 6 June 2026 In April, Donna fired back at a comment about her appearance. Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 2 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1566, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1880, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of fireback was in 1566

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Cite this Entry

“Fireback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fireback. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.

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