Home Synonyms fire

Synonyms of fire in English:

fire


See US English definition of fire

See UK English definition of fire

See Spanish definition of fuego

noun

1‘a fire broke out in the kitchen’

SYNONYMS
blaze, conflagration, inferno, holocaust, firestorm
flames, burning, combustion

2‘he turned on the electric fire’

SYNONYMS
heater, radiator, convector

3‘he lacked fire and animation’

SYNONYMS
dynamism, energy, vigour, animation, vitality, vibrancy, exuberance, ebullience, zest, elan
passion, ardour, impetuosity, intensity, zeal, spirit, life, liveliness, verve, vivacity, vivaciousness
sparkle, scintillation, dash
enthusiasm, eagerness, gusto
fervour, fervency, force, potency, vehemence
inspiration, imagination, creativity, inventiveness, flair
informal pep, vim, zing, go, get-up-and-go, oomph, pizzazz

4‘rapid machine-gun fire’

SYNONYMS
gunfire, firing, sniping, flak, bombardment
fusillade, volley, barrage, salvo, cannonade

5‘journalists would be better off directing their fire at the prime minister’

SYNONYMS
criticism, censure, condemnation, castigation, denunciation, opprobrium, admonishments, vituperation, scolding, chiding
disapproval, hostility, antagonism, animosity, ill will, enmity
informal flak, brickbats, knocks, raps

verb

1‘howitzers that fired shells in a high arc’

SYNONYMS
launch, shoot, discharge, eject, hurl, throw, send flying, let fly with, loose off, shy, send
North American informal pop

2‘someone fired a gun at me’

SYNONYMS
shoot, discharge, let off, trigger, set off, blast
let fly with

3‘he was fired for serious misconduct’

SYNONYMS
dismiss, discharge, give someone their notice, lay off, let go, throw out, get rid of, oust, depose
British make redundant
cashier
informal sack, give the sack to, axe, kick out, boot out, give someone the boot, give someone the bullet, give someone the heave-ho, give someone the old heave-ho, give someone the push, give someone their marching orders, show someone the door
British informal give someone their cards, give someone the elbow

4‘the engine fired and she put her foot down’

SYNONYMS
ignite, start, catch, get started, get going

5‘I fired the straw’

SYNONYMS
light, ignite, kindle, set fire to, set on fire, set alight, set ablaze, put a match to, touch off, spark off, incinerate
informal torch
literary enkindle, inflame
ANTONYMS

put out

6‘she fired my imagination with her tales of warfare and terror’

SYNONYMS
stimulate, stir up, excite, enliven, awaken, arouse, rouse, call forth, draw forth, bring out, engender, evoke, inflame, breathe life into, put life into, animate
inspire, motivate, quicken, incite, drive, impel, spur on, galvanize, electrify, trigger, impassion
ANTONYMS

deaden


Phrases

    catch fire

    ‘the driver got out before the car caught fire’


    SYNONYMS
    ignite, catch light, burst into flames, go up in flames, begin to burn
    on fire

    1‘the restaurant was on fire’


    SYNONYMS
    burning, ablaze, blazing, aflame, in flames, flaming, raging, fiery
    alight, lit, lighted, ignited
    literary afire

    2‘she was on fire with passion’


    SYNONYMS
    ardent, passionate, fervent, intense, excited, aflutter
    eager, enthusiastic
    fire up

    1‘the entrepreneurial spirit that fired him up seventeen years ago’


    SYNONYMS
    activate, motivate, stimulate, actuate, move, drive, rouse, stir, stir up, arouse, energize, animate, fire
    prompt, incite, spark off, influence, impel, spur on, urge, goad

    2‘derby games invariably fire up the supporters’


    SYNONYMS
    stir up, arouse, rouse, excite, galvanize, electrify, stimulate, inspire, move, fire the enthusiasm of, fire the imagination of, get going, whip up, inflame, agitate, goad, provoke, spur on, urge, encourage, animate, incite, egg on
    North American light a fire under
    rare inspirit