fire 1 of 2

Definition of firenext
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
In addition, a 2024 CDCR report finds that people who spent a year or longer in a fire camp have lower recidivism rates compared to fire camp-eligible individuals who did not participate in fire camps. Lyanne Wang, CBS News, 30 June 2026 The fire contained compounds from more than two dozen chemical families, including dangerous amounts of bromide, a naturally occurring element that can irritate the skin and mucus membranes. Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 29 June 2026
Verb
Though his tail was wagging, the dog immediately bounded down the hallway toward an officer, who fired his service pistol four times, killing the dog. Paige St. John, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026 Memphis police say National Guard troops fired their weapons in the early morning hours Sunday, killing a man who was armed with a handgun. Joel Rose, NPR, 5 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for fire
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fire
Noun
  • But Grand Junction’s cloudless blue sky gave no hint of the inferno that continued to ravage the Colorado-Utah border less than an hour away.
    Chelsea Bailey, CNN Money, 29 June 2026
  • The story detailed the first critical hours of the Palisades fire, when thousands of residents had to decide whether and how to flee the inferno.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026
Noun
  • As the moon and Pluto align, your aura of intensity magnifies.
    USA TODAY, USA Today, 2 July 2026
  • Rather than simply assembling the most talented roster possible, Taylor said JHX is prioritizing players who understand the tournament’s intensity and have experienced the disappointment of coming up short.
    Latif Love July 1, Kansas City Star, 1 July 2026
Noun
  • According to the marine science center, Wilbur did not have identification tags, and, following the stressful ordeal, officials decided not to tag her.
    Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 2 July 2026
  • Engelmayer said Weinstein's medical ordeal was exacerbated by a case of pneumonia.
    Edward Segarra, USA Today, 1 July 2026
Verb
  • The man advanced toward police, and one officer shot the man, the KBI said.
    Nathan Pilling July 1, Kansas City Star, 2 July 2026
  • Kaiseem Smith, 16, is also being sought by police in connection with the fatal shooting of Billy Schmidt, who was fatally shot near his South Philadelphia home on June 6.
    Tom Ignudo, CBS News, 2 July 2026
Verb
  • Seconds later, a powerful explosion blasted through the doorway, shattering windows and sending vertical blinds and debris flying as firefighters quickly retreated from the building.
    Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026
  • Two days before National HIV Testing Day, the Empowerment Resource Center’s mobile outreach team gathered in the parking lot of a Midtown Walgreens, blasting music and serving snacks.
    Tamar Hallerman, AJC.com, 1 July 2026
Verb
  • The formula includes collagen-stimulating copper peptides and Matrixyl 3000 (a gentle retinol alternative) to quite-literally make the skin age in reverse.
    Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 4 July 2026
  • The process involved suctioning the newborn's airway and stimulating him.
    Latoya Gayle, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026
Verb
  • The Hightowers, Rhaenyra soon learns, have sacked the town of Tumbleton, a thriving city on the border of the Crownlands and the Reach.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026
  • That came in the spring of 2025, about 11 months after his dad had been sacked as coach, when Pochettino, the new manager, gave the younger Berhalter his first national team call-up.
    Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026
Verb
  • All the gold is gone, and there’s barely enough to pay her soldiers, let alone throw a lavish coronation.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026
  • California’s court systems have also thrown their weight behind the plaintiffs in the case.
    Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Fire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fire. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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