Synonyms of firing

firing 1 of 2

noun

ˈfī-riŋ 

as in blasting

a directed propelling of a missile by a firearm or artillery piece

found a flaw in the gun's firing

Synonyms & Similar Words

• blasting
• bombardment
• barrage
• shot
• discharge
• volley
• burst
• blitz
• salvo
• fusillade
• hail
• cannonade
• potshot
• shower
• blitzkrieg
• broadside
• drumfire
• storm

firing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of fire

1

as in shooting

to cause (a projectile) to be driven forward with force

police officers firing rubber bullets

Synonyms & Similar Words

• shooting
• launching
• throwing
• blasting
• discharging
• hurling
• loosing
• projecting
• squeezing off
• tossing
• casting
• flinging
• slinging
• blazing (at)
• sniping (at)
• heaving
• pelting
• hurtling
• lobbing
• catapulting
• pitching

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

• shooting
• blasting
• discharging
• blazing
• peppering
• sniping
• potshotting
• plinking

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

• stimulating
• stirring
• animating
• spiking
• arousing
• activating
• provoking
• driving
• energizing
• triggering
• electrifying
• lifting
• bracing
• awakening
• cheering
• enlivening
• invigorating
• exciting
• quickening
• sparking
• charging
• reviving
• recreating
• vivifying
• raising
• vitalizing
• propelling
• filliping
• moving
• motivating
• inspiring
• jump-starting
• strengthening
• rousing
• boosting
• awaking
• rallying
• zipping (up)
• jazzing (up)
• juicing up
• pepping (up)
• resurrecting
• motiving
• livening (up)
• gingering (up)
• actuating
• amping (up)
• galvanizing
• waking (up)
• renewing
• inciting
• kindling
• fomenting
• instigating
• refreshing
• fermenting
• inflaming
• setting off
• infusing
• regenerating
• impelling
• recharging
• reactivating
• buoying
• rekindling
• whipping (up)
• turning on
• reinvigorating
• reawakening
• fortifying
• revitalizing
• abetting
• resuscitating
• enkindling
• rejuvenating
• steeling
• emboldening
• reenergizing
• restimulating
• reanimating
• reawaking
• refreshening
• heartening

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• killing
• wearing
• damping
• dampening
• deadening
• undermining
• harassing
• draining
• dulling
• weakening
• exhausting
• checking
• sapping
• burning out
• restraining
• wearing out
• knocking out
• debilitating
• slowing
• inhibiting
• enervating
• suppressing
• doing in
• washing out
• fatiguing
• quenching
• curbing
• wearying
• repressing
• stunting
• quelling
• enfeebling
• stilling
• discouraging
• fagging
• kayoing
• demoralizing
• tuckering (out)
• disheartening
• daunting
• jading
• dispiriting

4

as in sacking

to let go from office, service, or employment

fired the secretary for incompetence

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sacking
• removing
• dismissing
• retiring
• releasing
• discharging
• terminating
• axing
• bouncing
• canning
• mustering out
• pink-slipping
• turning off
• downsizing
• cashiering
• showing (someone) the door
• sending packing
• trimming
• laying off
• furloughing
• excessing
• separating
• unseating
• kicking out
• drumming (out)
• booting (out)
• chucking (out)
• throwing out

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• hiring
• employing
• retaining
• engaging
• keeping
• signing (up or on)
• taking on
• rehiring
• contracting
• recruiting
• reemploying
• subcontracting

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

• throwing
• hurling
• tossing
• flinging
• slinging
• launching
• casting
• bowling
• heaving
• hurtling
• chucking
• lobbing
• pelting
• pitching
• pegging
• catapulting
• darting
• dashing
• flipping
• lofting
• gunning
• rolling
• letting fly
• shooting
• ejecting
• thrusting
• precipitating
• passing
• projecting
• propelling
• hooking
• bucking
• rifling
• impelling

6

as in burning

to set (something) on fire

lit some kindling before attempting to fire the logs

Synonyms & Similar Words

• burning
• igniting
• scorching
• lighting
• torching
• kindling
• inflaming
• baking
• illuminating
• enkindling
• illumining
• cooking
• charring
• broiling
• incinerating
• immolating
• lightening
• deflagrating
• stoking
• setting off
• brightening
• ashing
• searing
• irradiating
• rekindling
• radiating
• cremating
• scalding
• scathing
• relighting
• kilning
• frizzling
• reigniting
• banking

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• extinguishing
• quenching
• choking
• putting out
• smothering
• suffocating
• dousing
• stamping (out)
• darkening
• obscuring
• snuffing (out)
• dimming
• blackening
• dulling

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of firing

Noun

He is helped, though, by having Isak and Florian Wirtz fit and firing heading into the season, a luxury his predecessor never had. — Andy Jones, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026

Also on the chopping block is a 2022 license agreement with ICE for the use of a firing range at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, according to a board letter. — Paris Barraza, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026

Verb

When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, Miller rushed to the smoking deck and began firing an anti-aircraft gun (despite not being trained to use it) at the planes, and helped carry wounded sailors to safety. — Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026

Hours earlier, the UAE had accused Tehran of firing two missiles into its territory. — Rafi Schwartz, TheWeek, 20 Aug. 2026