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

The Celts lit a ceremonial fire to usher in a new season during the festival. —Brittany Anas, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024

About 100 burn marks, which were thought to protect against fire, were also uncovered at the property. —Lianne Kolirin, CNN, 29 Oct. 2024

Verb

Mercury opposing Uranus can fire you up to burn it down. —USA TODAY, 30 Oct. 2024

So, with around a third of the season gone, Ten Hag was fired. —Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024

Phrases Containing fire

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