1
as in shooting
to cause (a projectile) to be driven forward with force
police officers firing rubber bullets
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in discharging
to cause a weapon to release a missile with great force
soldiers fired at the enemy in panic-stricken disorder
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in stimulating
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 sacking
to let go from office, service, or employment
fired the secretary for incompetence
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in throwing
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 burning
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.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of firing
Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 15 May 2026
The school’s vice president of communications told The Star’s Eric Adler that the firing was not based solely on the protest and pointed to prior incidents in his personnel file, while more than 200 parents and students have signed a petition asking for his reinstatement.
—Hannah Wise, Kansas City Star, 14 May 2026
ABC News, 18 May 2026
Council members voted to reinstate the police officers and approved a measure blocking the mayor from firing them for 30 days.
—CBS News, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for firing
Noun
This claim became central to her lawsuit against Disney following her firing in 2021, which occurred after Lucasfilm publicly condemned her social media activity.
—Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 15 May 2026
The school’s vice president of communications told The Star’s Eric Adler that the firing was not based solely on the protest and pointed to prior incidents in his personnel file, while more than 200 parents and students have signed a petition asking for his reinstatement.
—Hannah Wise, Kansas City Star, 14 May 2026
Verb
The state-run Anadolu Agency said the 37-year-old suspect in the latest attack, identified as Metin O, allegedly shot and killed his wife in a street before firing from his car at a restaurant, killing its owner and an employee.
—ABC News, 18 May 2026
Council members voted to reinstate the police officers and approved a measure blocking the mayor from firing them for 30 days.
—CBS News, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for firing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for firing
Noun
-
The sweet spot for blasting is in the center of each round target.—
Dewayne Bevil,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 Apr. 2026
-
McLeod grew up listening to the quarry’s warning sirens, learning to take cover indoors before the blasting began.—
Sarah Zhang,
The Atlantic,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Police are investigating an east Fort Worth shooting that injured a man Sunday night.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
19 May 2026
-
But while he wasn’t fired for shooting a Black man who died, he is fired from the LAPD for beating up a white man who lived.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
This could be the postprandial transmission of the gut hormone glucagon-like peptide-1, or GLP-1, which signals fullness to the brain, or oestrogen from the ovaries, which is sent to pubertal breast tissue, stimulating it to grow.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
-
For CEOs, CHROs, and transformation leads wrestling with AI disruption, hybrid work, and unrelenting competition, The Octopus Organization is stimulating reading.—
Steve Denning,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
But so far the government has decided not to intervene by sacking him and backpedalling on allowing Russia to participate.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
6 May 2026
-
Any hope that Liam Rosenior’s sacking 12 days ago would spark an upturn, especially after their FA Cup semi-final victory over Leeds United, have been brought back to reality.—
Simon Johnson,
New York Times,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
Igor Mykhaylovych Lytvynchuk, 38, of Covington, Washington, is accused of throwing a rock at the head of an endangered Hawaiian monk seal — one of the rarest marine mammals in the world — earlier this month in an incident caught on camera by beachgoers.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
18 May 2026
-
Special props to the jolly axe-throwing head of adventure, Nye Rees; personable Brasserie maitre d’, Javier Padron; and trainer Peter Sullivan, who explained the finer points of fasting for women whilst crucifying my glutes.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
Heard whole, the Barber-Menotti product is as gloriously over the top as anything that Bette Davis ever made with William Wyler—and Heartbeat’s reduction of it to its burning cinders is as just as effective as Glyndebourne’s grandly eloquent take.—
Russell Platt,
New Yorker,
20 May 2026
-
In the northernmost part of Delaware, coal-burning steam locomotives still chug along historic rails, pulling travelers in antique passenger coaches.—
Travel + Leisure Editors,
Travel + Leisure,
19 May 2026
Noun
-
So few buildings are left standing after Israeli bombardment that the Mediterranean is visible in the distance.—
Shira Pinson,
NBC news,
17 May 2026
-
The country’s recent bombardment of Lebanon, killing thousands in response to Hezbollah strikes launched after joint US-Israeli strikes assassinated Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has also drawn widespread condemnation internationally.—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
The upholstered frame is soft and durable—my kids have already put it through the ringer, bumping into it, launching themselves off of it, and using the cushions to build forts.—
Meg Kernahan,
Architectural Digest,
15 May 2026
-
But according to Reilly, Varda and SpaceX are currently the only companies capable of launching experiments into orbit that don’t need to be operated by astronauts.—
Ramin Skibba,
Scientific American,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Firing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/firing. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
