fiery

adjective

fi·​ery ˈfī(-ə)-rē 

fierier; fieriest

1

a

: consisting of fire

fiery tongues playing about the roof of the burning building

b

: marked by fire

a fiery crash

c

: using or carried out with fire

the fiery experiments of the ancient alchemists

d

: liable to catch fire or explode : flammable

a fiery vapor

2

a

: hot like a fire

the fiery taste of red pepper

b(1)

: being in an inflamed state or condition

a fiery boil

(2)

: feverish and flushed

a fiery forehead

3

: of the color of fire : red

a fiery sunset

4

a

: full of or exuding emotion or spirit

a fiery sermon

b

: easily provoked : irritable

a fiery temper

fierily

ˈfī-rə-lē 

adverb

fieriness

ˈfī-rē-nəs 

noun

fiery adverb

Synonyms

• ablaze
• afire
• aflame
• alight [chiefly British]
• blazing
• burning
• combusting
• conflagrant
• flaming
• ignited
• inflamed
• enflamed
• kindled
• lit
• lighted

Examples of fiery in a Sentence

He was killed in a fiery crash.

the fiery Yule log made a splendid backdrop for our holiday party

Recent Examples on the Web

And a Delta plane flipped upside down in a fiery crash landing at a Toronto airport, injuring 21 people. —Melissa Chan, NBC News, 27 Feb. 2025

The relationship between the show’s actual composers and the admirer-pirates has been fiery at times. —Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 26 Feb. 2025

Watch Stewart’s fiery takedown of Musk’s DOGE in its entirety below. —Jack Dunn, Variety, 26 Feb. 2025

Taco Bell is giving some fan-favorite items a fiery upgrade. —Sabrina Weiss, People.com, 25 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from fire, fier fire

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for fiery

• diary
• friary
• priory

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Kids Definition

fiery

adjective

fi·​ery ˈfī-(ə-)rē 

fierier; fieriest

1

: being on fire : blazing

2

: hot or glowing like a fire

3

a

: full of spirit

a fiery speech

b

: easily set off

a fiery temper

fieriness noun