FIRING (UP) Synonyms: 63 Similar and Opposite Words

firing (up)

verb

Definition of firing (up)

present participle of fire (up)

as in provoking

to rouse to strong feeling or action the dynamic speaker fired up the audience as no one had previously done

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for firing (up)

Verb

The best of these films are simultaneously suspenseful, thought-provoking and dazzling.

— David Faris, TheWeek, 27 Oct. 2026
In 2012 American entrepreneur Russ George spread roughly 100 tons of iron in the North Pacific, provoking international criticism that a commercial venture had begun geoengineering without adequate oversight.

— Alec Luhn, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of provoking

Verb

Traditional vendor evaluations reward platforms that maximize match rates, encouraging systems to force low-confidence records into identities simply to return an answer.

— Filip Popovic, Forbes.com, 30 Oct. 2026
As Election Day approaches, organizations like ours will be encouraging women to vote because doing so matters enormously.

— Sharon Sewell-Fairman, New York Daily News, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of encouraging

Verb

Some see promise in manipulating the gut microbiome; others are exploring the potential of stimulating the vagus nerve, eliciting a psychedelic experience or repurposing drugs that might quiet inflammation in the brain.

— Lynne Peeples, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2026
Mounjaro and Zepbound, also made by Eli Lilly, mimic the effects of GLP-1 as well as GIP, a type of hormone that helps regulate blood sugar by stimulating insulin.

— ABC News, ABC News, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of stimulating

Verb

Add the cardamom and continue to simmer, stirring occasionally, until the rhubarb is completely broken down and the jam has thickened, about 25 minutes.

— ABC News, ABC News, 3 Nov. 2026
Gradually pour in 3½ cups buttermilk, then melted butter, stirring constantly until combined.

— Inés Anguiano, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of stirring

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

firing squads

firing (up)

firkin

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“Firing (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/firing%20%28up%29. Accessed 5 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of firing (up)

verb

Example Sentences

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