fire 1 of 2

1
as in inferno
a destructive burning a number of suspicious fires in the neighborhood recently

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fire

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to shoot
to cause (a projectile) to be driven forward with force police officers firing rubber bullets

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2
as in to blast
to cause a weapon to release a missile with great force soldiers fired at the enemy in panic-stricken disorder

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of fire
Noun
Currently, there is no data indicating the containment progress of the fire and its cause remains unknown. Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 14 July 2025 The most recent incarnation of the lodge had been operational since 1937, after a kitchen fire burned down the original in 1932. Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 14 July 2025
Verb
Still, a few days later, she got fired, Dwyer said in her memo. Dave Boucher, Freep.com, 14 July 2025 Apparently, Señor Musk is now working for the government and firing a lot of people from their jobs—and really enjoying it. Larry David, New Yorker, 14 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for fire
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fire
Noun
  • Climate change is a major contributor, as drought and rising global temperatures make the infernos bigger, faster and harder to stop.
    CNN.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 3 July 2025
  • And days before the Formula One Grand Prix in Jeddah in March 2022, the Houthi rebels fired a missile at an oil storage facility in the Saudi city and an inferno of fire and smoke filled the skyline.
    Dina Esfandiary, Time, 1 July 2025
Noun
  • Cooler temperatures raise level of play The temperature dropped, and the intensity rose.
    Michael Cox, New York Times, 10 July 2025
  • Expressing Emotions Supports Emotional Regulation While many try to instinctively suppress uncomfortable emotions, research shows that simply putting your feelings into words can powerfully help regulate emotional intensity.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
Noun
  • Taissa Farmiga, who plays Gladys, graciously spoke with The Hollywood Reporter and answered several questions regarding her beloved character’s state of mind throughout this especially harrowing ordeal.
    Ronda Racha Penrice, HollywoodReporter, 14 July 2025
  • One reported attendee live-tweeted the entire ordeal and claimed Ye started the show over 45 minutes late.
    Mya Abraham, VIBE.com, 14 July 2025
Verb
  • Doing so could stimulate economic growth, and would be warmly welcomed by the White House and investors.
    Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 July 2025
  • Examples include flashing notifications that make your phone jump and squeak, colorful rewards when others like your posts, and algorithms that push out the most emotional content to stimulate your most base emotions of anger, shame or glee.
    Lisa Schirch, The Conversation, 7 July 2025
Verb
  • At least one department, the Department of Veterans Affairs, has massively scaled back a plan to sack more than 76,000 employees.
    Rebecca Morin, USA Today, 10 July 2025
  • On a stroll through New York City yesterday, Hathaway’s outfit offered a fun solution for not sacking off your denim in the high summer heat just yet.
    Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 10 July 2025
Verb
  • Authorities believe Bryant is the man captured on surveillance video throwing a Molotov cocktail through the window of the building, according to an arrest affidavit cited by the Denver Post and Colorado Public Radio (CPR).
    Ben Brachfeld, People.com, 15 July 2025
  • Through his first eight seasons with the Panthers, Newton threw for over 3,000 yards each year.
    Justin Grasso, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 July 2025
Verb
  • The pair, who met as college undergrads, both burned with idealism and recognized their privilege could be leveraged for a game-changing idea.
    Carole Horst, Variety, 13 Sep. 2023
  • The Ellen MacArthur Foundation promotes circular fashion and says that, in the United States, an amount of clothing equal to a garbage truck is ferried to landfills or burned every second.
    Neeti Mehra, Treehugger, 13 Sep. 2023
Noun
  • It was never built, because understanding dolphin language was never a research priority, but the whole project just feels very 1970s in its inspiration and enthusiasm.
    Eva Amsen, Forbes.com, 11 July 2025
  • Crucially for Spurs, that enthusiasm in possession doesn’t wane without it.
    Thom Harris, New York Times, 11 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Fire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fire. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.

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