1
as in infernos
a destructive burning
a number of suspicious fires in the neighborhood recently
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in ordeals
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
1
as in shoots
to cause (a projectile) to be driven forward with force
police officers firing rubber bullets
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
3
as in stimulates
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in sacks
to let go from office, service, or employment
fired the secretary for incompetence
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in throws
to send through the air especially with a quick forward motion of the arm
fired a pass to the running back
Synonyms & Similar Words
6
as in burns
to set (something) on fire
lit some kindling before attempting to fire the logs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of fires
Ca Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
30 June 2026
Fewer fireworks, fewer fires 🎆 🔥 Leave the pyrotechnics to the professionals.
—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
30 June 2026
At least 12 other fires are simultaneously burning across Utah, including two major blazes, the Snyder Fire near the Colorado border and the Babylon Fire in San Juan County, which have each consumed over 30,000 acres and are both 0% contained.
—
Bill Hutchinson,
ABC News,
30 June 2026
This list shows details about the largest active fires being monitored.
—
Matt Stiles,
CNN Money,
30 June 2026
Near the Colorado-Utah border, several fires merged to devour more than 30,000 acres and counting in the Snyder Fire.
—
Chierstin Roth,
CBS News,
30 June 2026
Peter Suciu,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2026
The playlist that fires you up for routine tasks is likely to interfere with more demanding work.
—
Bridget K. Daleiden,
The Conversation,
29 June 2026
João Cancelo fires a low cross from the right, but a big Vargas paw keeps out Bruno Fernandes's close-range effot.
—
Nbc News,
NBC news,
28 June 2026
Knoxville, who was writing an article that led him to test self-defense equipment by using various weapons on himself, fires a revolver at his own chest from point-blank range while wearing a bulletproof vest.
—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
26 June 2026
As there’s only one bullet in the pistol, empty chambers click multiple times before the bullet finally fires.
—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
26 June 2026
Anyone who vandalizes government property, fires guns around an ICE facility, or attacks a police officer can and should be charged with crimes.
—
David A. Graham,
The Atlantic,
25 June 2026
Less than eight minutes after falling behind, Keito Nakamura fires a strike into the net, bouncing off his teammate Daizen Maeda on the way in to tie things back up at one goal apiece.
—
Jim Barnes,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 June 2026
The acceleration fires the propellant into space as a spray (hence the name).
—
Elizabeth Howell,
Space.com,
9 June 2026
Noun
Earthquakes' sudden, rapid shaking can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches.
—
Ca Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
30 June 2026
Fewer fireworks, fewer fires 🎆 🔥 Leave the pyrotechnics to the professionals.
—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
30 June 2026
At least 12 other fires are simultaneously burning across Utah, including two major blazes, the Snyder Fire near the Colorado border and the Babylon Fire in San Juan County, which have each consumed over 30,000 acres and are both 0% contained.
—
Bill Hutchinson,
ABC News,
30 June 2026
This list shows details about the largest active fires being monitored.
—
Matt Stiles,
CNN Money,
30 June 2026
Near the Colorado-Utah border, several fires merged to devour more than 30,000 acres and counting in the Snyder Fire.
—
Chierstin Roth,
CBS News,
30 June 2026
Verb
Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force submarine fires a torpedo at the decommissioned USS Juneau in support of a live-fire sinking exercise (SINKEX) as part of Valiant Shield 2026 while underway in the Philippine Sea, June 27, 2026.
—
Peter Suciu,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2026
The playlist that fires you up for routine tasks is likely to interfere with more demanding work.
—
Bridget K. Daleiden,
The Conversation,
29 June 2026
João Cancelo fires a low cross from the right, but a big Vargas paw keeps out Bruno Fernandes's close-range effot.
—
Nbc News,
NBC news,
28 June 2026
Knoxville, who was writing an article that led him to test self-defense equipment by using various weapons on himself, fires a revolver at his own chest from point-blank range while wearing a bulletproof vest.
—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
26 June 2026
As there’s only one bullet in the pistol, empty chambers click multiple times before the bullet finally fires.
—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
26 June 2026
Anyone who vandalizes government property, fires guns around an ICE facility, or attacks a police officer can and should be charged with crimes.
—
David A. Graham,
The Atlantic,
25 June 2026
Less than eight minutes after falling behind, Keito Nakamura fires a strike into the net, bouncing off his teammate Daizen Maeda on the way in to tie things back up at one goal apiece.
—
Jim Barnes,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 June 2026
The acceleration fires the propellant into space as a spray (hence the name).
—
Elizabeth Howell,
Space.com,
9 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fires
Noun
-
Six days later, powerful Santa Ana winds kicked up smoldering embers that sparked one of Los Angeles’ most devastating infernos.
-
Now, infernos sweep through populous towns and cities.
Noun
-
People who have been at this work longer, or have survived similar ordeals, can help a mentee see around corners.
-
Meanwhile, Phillips said, victims are left to live with the impacts of the perpetrators’ actions — with the survivors in this case forced to continue to relive their ordeals as the case continues on to the Court of Appeal.
Verb
-
The second, MiDAR, is an active multispectral sensing system that shoots multiple wavelengths of light through the water column to illuminate the otherwise dark ocean depths.
-
Travis Kelce shoots his shot Swift and Kelce’s romance can be traced back to summer 2023, when the Kansas City Chiefs tight end attended an Eras tour concert at Arrowhead Stadium, the Chiefs’ house.
Verb
-
Continue reading … HOT TAKE — Paris deputy mayor blasts Americans on Instagram for France's deadly heat wave.
-
It’s lit up in patriotic red, white, and blue, and sometimes blasts Vegas-nightclub-style spotlights into the sky.
Verb
-
But medication reduces only the symptoms of fear, not the underlying trigger that stimulates it.
-
This hormone improves insulin sensitivity and stimulates GLP-1 secretion.
Verb
-
Manning, back for what is probably his final season, is on the short list of best returning quarterbacks in the country and edge rusher Colin Simmons won the SEC sacks title with 12.
-
Riley Moss sacks a scrambling Trevor Lawrence on third-and-4 for a 1-yard loss.
Verb
-
Brennan, though, throws the first wrench into the works by instead trying to establish his credibility.
-
To the community whose history has been scrubbed from public view even as the nation throws itself a party in the name of freedom?
Verb
-
Rucking burns significantly more calories than regular walking, builds full-body functional strength and supports bone density, all while staying gentler on the joints than running.
-
Venus burns only 1 degree to the upper right of Regulus, which is 150 times fainter.
Cite this Entry
“Fires.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fires. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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