Synonyms of fire

fire 1 of 2

noun

ˈfī(-ə)r 

1

as in inferno

a destructive burning

a number of suspicious fires in the neighborhood recently

Synonyms & Similar Words

• inferno
• wildfire
• blaze
• conflagration
• bonfire
• holocaust
• campfire
• arson
• forest fire
• brush fire
• backfire
• flare-up

2

as in intensity

depth of feeling

had she the fire in her heart that a run for the White House requires?

Synonyms & Similar Words

• intensity
• enthusiasm
• emotion
• warmth
• heat
• intenseness
• violence
• passionateness
• passion
• white heat
• fervor
• zeal
• vehemence
• ardor
• fervency
• excitement
• fervidness
• tenderness
• ardency
• compassion
• responsiveness
• sympathy
• sentimentality
• fever
• emotionalism
• eagerness
• cathexis
• melodrama
• emotionality
• histrionics
• obsession
• earnestness
• infatuation
• zest
• gusto
• sentiment
• mania
• fanaticism
• mawkishness
• keenness
• sappiness
• hot-bloodedness
• torridity
• torridness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• reserve
• dryness
• insensitivity
• impassivity
• insensibility
• composure
• impassiveness
• reticence
• insensitiveness
• phlegm
• calmness
• indifference
• taciturnity
• aloofness
• stoicism
• apathy
• stoniness
• unconcern
• insensibleness
• stiffness
• collectedness
• coldness
• coolness
• detachedness
• reservedness
• chilliness
• frigidity
• woodenness
• frigidness

3

as in ordeal

a test of faith, patience, or strength

asked to be sent to the front lines, as he was eager to prove himself in the fire of battle

Synonyms & Similar Words

• ordeal
• gauntlet
• cross
• crucible
• trial
• baptism of fire
• baptism
• initiation
• gantlet
• tragedy
• misfortune
• mishap
• grievance
• challenge
• trouble
• grief
• adversity
• hardship
• tribulation
• woe
• privation
• misadventure
• acid test
• mischance
• nuisance
• discomfort
• difficulty
• inconvenience
• affliction
• litmus test
• complication
• vicissitude
• rigor
• asperity
• annoyance

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• shoot
• launch
• throw
• blast
• loose
• hurl
• discharge
• squeeze off
• project
• cast
• fling
• blaze (at)
• catapult
• toss
• sling
• heave
• snipe (at)
• pelt
• lob
• pitch
• hurtle

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• shoot
• blast
• blaze
• discharge
• pepper
• snipe
• potshot
• plink

3

as in to stimulate

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

• stimulate
• stir
• arouse
• animate
• provoke
• activate
• spark
• electrify
• energize
• awaken
• drive
• spike
• cheer
• trigger
• jazz (up)
• lift
• inspire
• enliven
• vitalize
• invigorate
• vivify
• quicken
• excite
• revive
• brace
• awake
• raise
• charge
• recreate
• motive
• rouse
• liven (up)
• jump-start
• motivate
• strengthen
• zip (up)
• move
• propel
• rally
• amp (up)
• juice up
• boost
• pep (up)
• fillip
• kindle
• set off
• ginger (up)
• refresh
• steel
• resurrect
• wake (up)
• renew
• galvanize
• incite
• actuate
• inflame
• impel
• rekindle
• enflame
• regenerate
• buoy
• ferment
• foment
• enkindle
• turn on
• infuse
• instigate
• whip (up)
• reactivate
• fortify
• reinvigorate
• recharge
• revitalize
• hearten
• reawaken
• resuscitate
• embolden
• rejuvenate
• reanimate
• abet
• restimulate
• reenergize
• reawake
• refreshen

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• kill
• dull
• damp
• dampen
• wear
• drain
• burn out
• exhaust
• deaden
• weary
• undermine
• wear out
• harass
• wash out
• slow
• knock out
• check
• weaken
• fatigue
• restrain
• sap
• quench
• suppress
• curb
• debilitate
• enfeeble
• inhibit
• stunt
• quell
• still
• do in
• repress
• fag
• discourage
• enervate
• tucker (out)
• jade
• demoralize
• daunt
• kayo
• dishearten
• dispirit

4

as in to sack

to let go from office, service, or employment

fired the secretary for incompetence

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sack
• remove
• dismiss
• retire
• release
• axe
• ax
• discharge
• can
• pink-slip
• terminate
• turn off
• bounce
• muster out
• show (someone) the door
• excess
• lay off
• send packing
• cashier
• kick out
• downsize
• trim
• separate
• chuck (out)
• furlough
• boot (out)
• throw out
• drum (out)
• unseat

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• hire
• employ
• engage
• retain
• keep
• sign (up or on)
• take on
• contract
• rehire
• recruit
• reemploy
• subcontract

5

as in to throw

to send through the air especially with a quick forward motion of the arm

fired a pass to the running back

Synonyms & Similar Words

• throw
• hurl
• toss
• fling
• sling
• cast
• launch
• let fly
• chuck
• heave
• catapult
• gun
• pitch
• lob
• dart
• dash
• loft
• bowl
• hurtle
• pelt
• flip
• peg
• rifle
• thrust
• roll
• shoot
• hook
• eject
• precipitate
• pass
• project
• propel
• impel
• buck

6

as in to burn

to set (something) on fire

lit some kindling before attempting to fire the logs

Synonyms & Similar Words

• burn
• ignite
• light
• scorch
• torch
• kindle
• inflame
• enflame
• bake
• enkindle
• illumine
• cook
• ash
• illuminate
• immolate
• set off
• kiln
• char
• incinerate
• broil
• deflagrate
• stoke
• lighten
• rekindle
• cremate
• brighten
• relight
• reignite
• sear
• frizzle
• scald
• irradiate
• radiate
• bank
• scathe

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• extinguish
• put out
• quench
• douse
• choke
• snuff (out)
• smother
• suffocate
• dowse
• dull
• stamp (out)
• dim
• obscure
• darken
• blacken

Examples of fire in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Surround yourself with the fiery colors of an autumn day, and then enjoy the warm glow of a sparkling fire on a cool fall night. —Roger Sands, Forbes, 17 Aug. 2024

Or splurge on a lavish Airbnb–like this five-acre villa boasting two fire pits, a pool, a rose garden, a waterfall, and a koi pond. —Elise Taylor, Vogue, 18 Aug. 2024

Verb

Flashback: Fitzgerald was fired abruptly in 2019 after leading the department since 2015. —Naheed Rajwani-Dharsi, Axios, 15 Aug. 2024

Unlike many other employees who bring discrimination cases, Hamby wasn’t fired, denied a raise, passed over for a promotion, downgraded in influence or exiled to another company office. —Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 19 Aug. 2024

Phrases Containing fire

• baptism by fire
• baptism of fire
• build a fire under
• catch fire
• cross fire
• fire (up)
• hang fire
• on fire