1
as in shooting
to cause (a projectile) to be driven forward with force
police officers firing rubber bullets
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in discharging
to cause a weapon to release a missile with great force
soldiers fired at the enemy in panic-stricken disorder
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in stimulating
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 sacking
to let go from office, service, or employment
fired the secretary for incompetence
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in throwing
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 burning
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 firing
E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 20 June 2026
And with typical first-choice right-sided centre-back Jurrien Timber failing to recover in time from a groin injury, Van Hecke has continued firing passes through the lines for the Netherlands at the World Cup.
—Elias Burke, New York Times, 20 June 2026
Chandelis Duster, NPR, 21 June 2026
In early March, Hezbollah began firing at northern Israel in response to its strikes on Iran.
—Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 20 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for firing
Noun
Every month, there has been some new directive or precedential case or mass firing that spins the heads of court staff and of lawyers on both sides.
—E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 20 June 2026
And with typical first-choice right-sided centre-back Jurrien Timber failing to recover in time from a groin injury, Van Hecke has continued firing passes through the lines for the Netherlands at the World Cup.
—Elias Burke, New York Times, 20 June 2026
Verb
Israel said the strikes were a response to Hezbollah firing projectiles at its forces overnight on Saturday.
—Chandelis Duster, NPR, 21 June 2026
In early March, Hezbollah began firing at northern Israel in response to its strikes on Iran.
—Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 20 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for firing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for firing
Noun
-
Five jettisoned from Arguijo-Mejia’s apartment, through his door, through the hallway wall, with three blasting into Ojeda’s kitchen.—
Eric Adler,
Kansas City Star,
6 June 2026
-
Automatic weapons blasting, tires squealing, the whole bit.—
Marla Jo Fisher,
Oc Register,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
Nearly seven years after a teenager was killed out front of a Miami Gardens gas station, police have arrested a man accused of shooting him.—
Sofia Saric
June 23,
Miami Herald,
24 June 2026
-
Payton and Martin could have escaped without shooting into the crowded street corner, the prosecutor argued.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
24 June 2026
Verb
-
Red light is mitochondrially stimulating, so late-night use can disrupt sleep.—
Allison Palmer,
Kansas City Star,
18 June 2026
-
Performance benefits often persist even in habitual users, even if the stimulating feel-good buzz fades.—
Samantha Agate,
Charlotte Observer,
13 June 2026
Verb
-
The result was so emphatic that the Tunisian soccer federation acted fast, sacking manager Sabri Lamouchi just hours after.—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
20 June 2026
-
Villa’s then sporting director Monchi reportedly attempting a straight swap of him for goalkeeper Emi Martinez last summer is a sacking offence (perhaps literally).—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
26 May 2026
Verb
-
The bear was completely oblivious to this crowd of people screaming and throwing things at it.—
Josh Rivera,
USA Today,
21 June 2026
-
There is a real distinction between a city unified by five fine starting players in a game that originally involved throwing a ball into a peach basket and that, however improbably, became the city game, and the bloody display in the nation’s capital.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
21 June 2026
Verb
-
The fire at a cold storage facility in Boyle Heights began burning Wednesday, hours after Bass departed for the dedication of the Barack Obama Presidential Center in Chicago.—
Noah Goldberg,
Los Angeles Times,
24 June 2026
-
The heat has been amplified by climate change, driven by humans burning fossil fuels.—
Taylor Ward,
CNN Money,
24 June 2026
Noun
-
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky called the attacks a response to Russia’s relentless nightly bombardment, which on Monday included Kyiv’s oldest and holiest church complex.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
18 June 2026
-
And rather than trying to be, in my view, kind of smart about how to build up a Lebanese government for the purpose of disarming and neutering Hezbollah, which is definitely in Israel’s interest, Israel has been engaged in this bombardment of Lebanon.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
Since launching in October, the machine has featured more than 80 artists and nearly 3,000 pieces of artwork.—
Ray Campos,
CBS News,
20 June 2026
-
The cut quickly climbed to the top space in early June after launching on the list in late February.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Firing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/firing. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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