1
as in inferno
a destructive burning
a number of suspicious fires in the neighborhood recently
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in intensity
depth of feeling
had she the fire in her heart that a run for the White House requires?
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
2
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to sack
to let go from office, service, or employment
fired the secretary for incompetence
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
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Recent Examples of fire
David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 1 July 2025
Israel and Iran exchanged heavy fire for the eighth straight day on Friday, with Iranian missiles striking Israeli cities and Israeli jets targeting military and nuclear sites across Iran.
—Amanda Castro
peter Aitken, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 June 2025
Anders Hagstrom, FOXNews.com, 30 June 2025
The Justice Department has reportedly fired at least three prosecutors involved in criminal cases tied to the 2021 US Capitol riot.
—Jade Walker, CNN Money, 30 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for fire
Noun
Roley, who was found dead near the scene after appearing to have shot himself, is suspected of lighting the brush with a flint fire starter before ambushing the firefighting crew in a mountainous area of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.
—David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 1 July 2025
Israel and Iran exchanged heavy fire for the eighth straight day on Friday, with Iranian missiles striking Israeli cities and Israeli jets targeting military and nuclear sites across Iran.
—Amanda Castro
peter Aitken, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 June 2025
Verb
News of Kyiv's pending withdrawal comes just a day after Moscow fired 537 aerial weapons toward Ukraine, including 477 drones and decoys and 60 missiles, according to Ukraine's air force.
—Anders Hagstrom, FOXNews.com, 30 June 2025
The Justice Department has reportedly fired at least three prosecutors involved in criminal cases tied to the 2021 US Capitol riot.
—Jade Walker, CNN Money, 30 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for fire
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fire
Noun
-
Nearly half a year since the infernos swept through their neighborhoods, thousands of people remain displaced – those like Mr. Quiroz’s mother, who lost homes, and those like Mr. Quiroz and his family, whose homes still stand.—
Melanie Stetson Freeman,
Christian Science Monitor,
20 June 2025
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But Israel has also widened the scope of its strikes to hit economic targets, turning vital parts of Iran’s fossil fuel infrastructure into infernos.—
Nabih Bulos,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2025
Noun
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Known for his breakout role in Snowfall, Idris brings intensity, precision, and charisma to a performance that demanded serious physical training, emotional depth, and even some real-life time on the track.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
27 June 2025
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Yet, in the nearly two years since then, the brutality and intensity of Israel’s military campaign in the Gaza Strip have mobilized opposition around the world.—
Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib,
The Atlantic,
26 June 2025
Noun
-
The ordeal happened at Carver’s Gap, near the North Carolina-Tennessee border and a roughly 65-mile drive northeast from Asheville.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
3 July 2025
-
The whole ordeal has been frustrating because the rickshaw had sentimental value.—
Jade Jackson,
IndyStar,
2 July 2025
Verb
-
In fact, scientists say today's children are exposed to far fewer antigens—the components that stimulate immune responses—than their grandparents were, despite receiving more immunizations overall.—
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 June 2025
-
The Cancer new moon stimulates your visionary capacities.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
25 June 2025
Verb
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Eight days later, in a game relocated to Glendale, Ariz., because of deadly wildfires in Southern California, Darnold was sacked nine times and had two turnovers (including a fumble returned for touchdown) in a 27-9 loss.—
Michael Silver,
New York Times,
19 June 2025
-
Nix turned the ball over just eight times and was sacked 20 times in those final 13 games.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
17 June 2025
Verb
-
However, if Lillard is planning to sign with a team this year and wants to land more than the minimum, that throws a wrench into the larger free-agent landscape.—
Bryan Toporek,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2025
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And most recently, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg went so far as to throw cold water on the entire higher education system, saying college is no longer needed to land a role in the current market.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
1 July 2025
Verb
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The pair, who met as college undergrads, both burned with idealism and recognized their privilege could be leveraged for a game-changing idea.—
Carole Horst,
Variety,
13 Sep. 2023
-
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation promotes circular fashion and says that, in the United States, an amount of clothing equal to a garbage truck is ferried to landfills or burned every second.—
Neeti Mehra,
Treehugger,
13 Sep. 2023
Noun
-
Late last week, some influential Democrats were saying that Lamont’s enthusiasm for his chief regulator may have cooled after PURA conceded destruction of the text messages.—
Edmund H. Mahony,
Hartford Courant,
29 June 2025
-
Throughout, the cast of 17 exudes an unmistakable enthusiasm for the material, the onstage electricity radiating up the alpine slopes of the Guthrie’s expansive Wurtele Thrust.—
Rob Hubbard,
Twin Cities,
28 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fire. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.
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