1
as in infernos
a destructive burning
a number of suspicious fires in the neighborhood recently
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in ordeals
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
as in shoots
to cause (a projectile) to be driven forward with force
police officers firing rubber bullets
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
3
as in stimulates
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 sacks
to let go from office, service, or employment
fired the secretary for incompetence
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in throws
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 burns
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 fires
Steve Scauzillo, Daily News, 27 May 2026
Thater went to Giverny soon after losing her Altadena home to the 2025 fires, but had also spent time there on a residency in 1991.
—Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 27 May 2026
Sacramento Fire officials say the smoke from those fires can also create a toxic gas cloud.
—Madisen Keavy, CBS News, 27 May 2026
Earthquakes' sudden, rapid shaking can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches.
—Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 27 May 2026
Across California, 1,521 fires had burned 48,135 acres as of Wednesday, compared with a five-year average of 2,163 fires burning 23,867 acres at this point — significantly fewer fires but more area burned, Acuña pointed out.
—Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2026
Bass’ standing is weak across the electorate post-fires even as Hollywood’s crew unions and other labor groups have endorsed her.
—Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 20 May 2026
The goal is to always keep fires 95% contained, at 10 acres or less, Barta said.
—Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 20 May 2026
Independence Fire Chief James Walker said that the structures have also been the site of multiple fires in recent months and years, posing an additional risk to fire, police and emergency medical responders.
—Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 20 May 2026
Aditya Jadhav, Interesting Engineering, 28 May 2026
Garcia is opening his car door at that very moment, and fires nine shots at Denis with his 9 mm Glock pistol as Denis speeds toward and past him.
—Ella Moore, Miami Herald, 19 May 2026
What Lopez was doing when the officer fires the shots is not seen as the camera’s view of Lopez is blocked by the squad SUV’s spotlight.
—Nathaniel Percy, Oc Register, 14 May 2026
Only the United States, a few NATO allies, Russia and Iran are believed to have this kind of high-speed torpedo, which fires air ahead of the weapon to reduce the drag of the water.
—Pau Mosquera, CNN Money, 12 May 2026
Hollis fires and Schultz fires his weapon a dozen times.
—Jason Rantala, CBS News, 11 May 2026
Giuffre then fires two shots at Griffin, who immediately drops to the ground.
—ABC News, 2 May 2026
Since the city adopted the video release policy more than a decade ago, experience has repeatedly demonstrated the fallacy of limiting inquiry to the precise moment when a police officer fires their gun.
—Jamie Kalven, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026
Hezbollah, though weakened in its last war with Israel that ended in November 2024, still fires drones, rockets and artillery daily into northern Israel and on ground troops inside Lebanon.
—Kareem Chehayeb, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026
Noun
His response to the Palisades and Eaton fires is to expand brush clearance efforts and home hardening.
—Steve Scauzillo, Daily News, 27 May 2026
Thater went to Giverny soon after losing her Altadena home to the 2025 fires, but had also spent time there on a residency in 1991.
—Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 27 May 2026
Sacramento Fire officials say the smoke from those fires can also create a toxic gas cloud.
—Madisen Keavy, CBS News, 27 May 2026
Earthquakes' sudden, rapid shaking can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches.
—Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 27 May 2026
Across California, 1,521 fires had burned 48,135 acres as of Wednesday, compared with a five-year average of 2,163 fires burning 23,867 acres at this point — significantly fewer fires but more area burned, Acuña pointed out.
—Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2026
Bass’ standing is weak across the electorate post-fires even as Hollywood’s crew unions and other labor groups have endorsed her.
—Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 20 May 2026
The goal is to always keep fires 95% contained, at 10 acres or less, Barta said.
—Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 20 May 2026
Independence Fire Chief James Walker said that the structures have also been the site of multiple fires in recent months and years, posing an additional risk to fire, police and emergency medical responders.
—Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 20 May 2026
Verb
When the radar or the EO/IR sensor detects an inbound projectile, the system calculates intercept geometry and fires a countermeasure either a hard-kill interceptor or a soft-kill electronic jammer, depending on system type within milliseconds.
—Aditya Jadhav, Interesting Engineering, 28 May 2026
Garcia is opening his car door at that very moment, and fires nine shots at Denis with his 9 mm Glock pistol as Denis speeds toward and past him.
—Ella Moore, Miami Herald, 19 May 2026
What Lopez was doing when the officer fires the shots is not seen as the camera’s view of Lopez is blocked by the squad SUV’s spotlight.
—Nathaniel Percy, Oc Register, 14 May 2026
Only the United States, a few NATO allies, Russia and Iran are believed to have this kind of high-speed torpedo, which fires air ahead of the weapon to reduce the drag of the water.
—Pau Mosquera, CNN Money, 12 May 2026
Hollis fires and Schultz fires his weapon a dozen times.
—Jason Rantala, CBS News, 11 May 2026
Giuffre then fires two shots at Griffin, who immediately drops to the ground.
—ABC News, 2 May 2026
Since the city adopted the video release policy more than a decade ago, experience has repeatedly demonstrated the fallacy of limiting inquiry to the precise moment when a police officer fires their gun.
—Jamie Kalven, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026
Hezbollah, though weakened in its last war with Israel that ended in November 2024, still fires drones, rockets and artillery daily into northern Israel and on ground troops inside Lebanon.
—Kareem Chehayeb, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fires
Noun
-
Now, infernos sweep through populous towns and cities.—
Susie Neilson,
San Francisco Chronicle,
2 July 2025
Noun
-
And for that matter, how could adults accurately account for such ordeals?—
Emily Watlington,
ARTnews.com,
24 May 2026
-
Lasser’s ordeals began to infect what Americans saw on screen.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
Ultimately, Ali shoots and kills Alamo after his right-hand man, Bishop (Darrell Britt-Gibson), turns on him and secretly removes the bullets from Alamo’s gun.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
1 June 2026
-
As promised, Ali shoots him, and as everyone panics and hits the floor, Ali shouts that Alamo Brown needs to come out.—
Selome Hailu,
Variety,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
The campaign blasts Brown for taking funds from others who associated with Epstein, including former Harvard professor Larry Summers in 2025.—
Liz Goodwin The Washington Post,
Arkansas Online,
25 May 2026
-
Wil Myers and Hunter Renfroe hit two each while Austin Hedges blasts a grand slam off Edwin Jackson.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
25 May 2026
Verb
-
Heading removes the end of shoots or limbs and stimulates regrowth near the cut.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
28 May 2026
-
This stimulates native, beneficial bacteria and diverse fungi, creating natural competition that keeps the fairy ring fungus in check.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
Manning, back for what is probably his final season, is on the short list of best returning quarterbacks in the country and edge rusher Colin Simmons won the SEC sacks title with 12.—
Cedric Golden,
Austin American Statesman,
3 Jan. 2026
-
Riley Moss sacks a scrambling Trevor Lawrence on third-and-4 for a 1-yard loss.—
Joe Nguyen,
Denver Post,
21 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
That is, until a conversation about having children throws their relationship into a tailspin.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
28 May 2026
-
The next season will follow up with the pair after the season-one finale, in which newcomer Hunter Davenport (Charlie Evans) throws a wrench in Dean and Allie’s secret relationship.—
Savannah Salazar,
Vulture,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
Drafty rooms, open windows, ceiling fans, and uneven surfaces can disrupt the flame, causing uneven melting, excessive soot, or wax that burns faster on one side than the other.—
Alexandra Emanuelli,
Southern Living,
28 May 2026
-
No amount of venture capital spin can alter the basic math of a business model that burns billions to eliminate its own revenue stream.—
Sunil Sharan,
Fortune,
27 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fires.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fires. Accessed 2 Jun. 2026.
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