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
Headlined by a performance by Adam Blackstone & Friends, the program will spotlight the firefighters, business owners, community leaders and Altadena locals who were affected by the fires. Angelique Jackson, Variety, 20 Feb. 2025 The series was postponed due to the Los Angeles fires. Stephanie Nolasco, Fox News, 20 Feb. 2025
Verb
On Tuesday, several national news outlets said the U.S. Department of Agriculture was trying to rehire several bird flu experts mistakenly fired with the Trump administration’s mass layoffs as part of the Department of Government Efficiency’s cost cuts. Catherine Muccigrosso, Charlotte Observer, 21 Feb. 2025 At least 3,000 additional people were fired from the U.S. Forest Service, which often works in concert with the parks. Ruffin Prevost, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fire
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fire
Noun
  • The inferno that raged across the Palisades on Jan. 7 took thousands of homes and several lives.
    Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 26 Feb. 2025
  • Despite tens of billions of dollars spent so far in California alone to reduce the risk of electric ignition, last month's infernos suggest that much more needs to be done to make sure the electric grid does not contribute to more tragedy.
    Jeff Young, Newsweek, 19 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • The rice serves as both a foundation and a mediator, bridging the creamy blandness of the pasta salad with the blunt-instrument intensity of the plate lunch’s third and central component, one kind or another of salty, savory meat.
    Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 16 Feb. 2025
  • Acres of calming white walls and pale woods refract and soothe the intensity of the Caribbean sun; the scale, courtesy of architects Botelho Wood, achieves the serenity of a museum; the interior and bespoke furniture design a sense of supreme comfort.
    Giles Hattersley, Vogue, 15 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • The Polish Space Agency also addressed the ordeal in a statement, noting that the rocket part’s trajectory would have carried it toward Poland.
    Jackie Wattles, CNN, 21 Feb. 2025
  • As DeJonge’s family awaits word about their loved one, Alysia offers one major takeaway from the ordeal.
    David Chiu, People.com, 21 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • The other key plot point is Farrah’s use of stroboscopic light therapy to stimulate brain activity and neural responses.
    David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Feb. 2025
  • Avoid stimulating activities before bedtime, and there should be no exposure to electronic devices emitting blue light.
    Arielle Tschinkel, Parents, 12 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Ex-head coach Julen Lopetegui was sacked and had been replaced by Graham Potter.
    Roshane Thomas, The Athletic, 14 Feb. 2025
  • He was sacked three times and threw two interceptions, finishing with a QB rating of 42.2. NFL pundits began to question Mahomes’ legacy in the immediate aftermath of the game.
    Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, 12 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • The first three episodes, in fact, are at their most entertaining, and most promising, as all the lawyers maneuver to snag promotions, field counteroffers and throw dirt at opponents.
    Tom Gliatto, People.com, 22 Feb. 2025
  • Best of all, this one’s waterproof, so you’ll be prepared for whatever weather your upcoming adventure throws at you.
    Genevieve Cepeda, Travel + Leisure, 22 Feb. 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
  • The unexpected uptick in inflation could dampen some of the business enthusiasm that arose after Trump's election on promises to reduce regulation and cut taxes.
    CHRISTOPHER RUGABER THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, arkansasonline.com, 13 Feb. 2025
  • Many of the nation’s sheriffs have responded with enthusiasm.
    Eileen Sullivan, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Fire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fire. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.

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