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

According to the suit, filed in Cook County court, the employee policy violation cited as the basis for Stilling Tanner’s firing relates to her sharing of the video with people not involved in the investigation of the March incident. — Eric Peterson, Chicago Tribune, 23 Sep. 2026

His previous managerial run with the San Diego Padres ended in a mid-season firing after four consecutive losing campaigns, leaving him with a dismal 274-366 career record entering this year. — Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 22 Sep. 2026

Verb

Ryder Burton completed two passes for 22 yards before firing a 56-yard scoring strike to Ty Mims and the Blazers needed only three plays and 49 seconds to take a 17-10 lead. — ABC News, 25 Sep. 2026

The man arrested at Miami International Airport after chaotic reports of an active shooter Wednesday afternoon was firing toward the crowded terminal before he was detained by deputies, according to a Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office arrest report. — David Goodhue, Sun Sentinel, 24 Sep. 2026