fire (up)

verb

Definition of fire (up)next
as in to provoke
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 fire (up)
  1. provoke
  2. encourage
  3. stimulate
Verb
  • Corben has previously clashed with Gabela and Gabela’s wife, Mariela, who have accused Corben of provoking them to get views for his content.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Keitel’s Feraud keeps provoking the feud; Carradine’s D’Hubert recognizes its madness but remains too bound by the same code of honor to walk away.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of provoke
Verb
  • While the colors blend in with the landscape and may draw your eye outside, the rooms also encourage procrastinating.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Lee told the Queen that her husband’s candidness has encouraged many to feel more comfortable with their own cancer journeys.
    — Allison DeGrushe, StyleCaster, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of encourage
Verb
  • Instead, some industry leaders advocate for the US government to become an ambitious early customer, stimulating domestic demand and building a resilient supply chain, mirroring China's successful strategy.
    — John Koetsier, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Stronger trade winds help to move warm surface water away from the South American coast, which stimulates upwelling—that is, the movement of cold, dense, and nutrient-rich deep ocean water toward the surface.
    — John P. Rafferty, Encyclopedia Britannica, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of stimulate
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

fires (up)
fire (up)
firewater
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Cite this Entry

“Fire (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fire%20%28up%29. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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