firing 1 of 2

noun

ˈfī-riŋ How to pronounce firing (audio)
Definition of firingnext
as in blasting
a directed propelling of a missile by a firearm or artillery piece found a flaw in the gun's firing

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

firing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of fire
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
Noun
Shipboard sensors generate targeting information before the combat system develops a firing solution. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 14 Aug. 2026 The union plans to fight the firing, said Brian Lucey, president of the local Fraternal Order of Police. — ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
Verb
The Supreme Court blocked the president from immediately firing the Fed governor, but gave him the option to try again. — Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 10 Aug. 2026 That looked like all Boise would need until Madison’s Aaron Edwards banged home a world-class equalizer in the 83rd minute, firing a shot from the left edge of the box and tucking it inside the right post. — Idaho Statesman, 9 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for firing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for firing
  1. blasting
  2. shooting
  3. stimulating
  4. sacking
  5. throwing
  6. burning
  7. bombardment
  8. launching
Noun
  • Project Director Kurt Kionka CBS While construction will continue for several more years, transportation officials say motorists should begin seeing fewer traffic disruptions now that the most intensive blasting work is finished.
    — Kelly Werthmann, CBS News, 30 July 2026
  • That could simplify collection of an initial bulk sample without extensive drilling or blasting.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 24 July 2026
Definition of blasting
Verb
  • Mangione faced those charges in connection with the December 2024 shooting death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
    — Brian Mann, NPR, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Deijae Jester was convicted of fatally shooting the rapper Pop Smoke in 2020 at a home in the Hollywood Hills.
    — Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of shooting
Verb
  • Learning new skills, playing word games and having stimulating hobbies like reading or puzzles keeps the mind sharp.
    — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Local manufacturing could eventually lower vehicle prices by avoiding import duties while stimulating investment in charging infrastructure, component manufacturing and battery production.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of stimulating
Verb
  • The museum replaced him with Sasha Suda, hiring her away from the National Gallery of Canada before sacking her following a disastrous rebrand and replacing her with Weiss, a former president of New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 29 July 2026
  • But so far, the government has decided not to intervene by sacking him and has backpedalled, allowing Russia to participate.
    — Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 23 July 2026
Definition of sacking
Verb
  • But the person most excited to play catch with his father, Ron, was Twins manager Derek Shelton, who wasn’t sure his arm would be capable after throwing Buxton batting practice Monday.
    — Dan Hayes, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The 49ers beat the Titans in their last regular-season meeting in December, 37-24, with Purdy throwing three touchdowns and McCaffrey recording a rushing touchdown.
    — Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of throwing
Verb
  • That giant wood burning fireplace is the perfect spot to enjoy a whiskey, neat.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Aug. 2026
  • In one 1989 case, the Supreme Court ruled that burning the American flag is protected by the First Amendment.
    — Grace Hase, Mercury News, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of burning
Noun
  • Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of using North Korean ballistic missiles in its attacks, as another night of bombardment killed at least nine civilians and injured dozens of others.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The regime’s aerial bombardment and the rebels’ underground explosions caused much of the destruction in the Jdeideh quarter, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that includes the al-Hatab Square.
    — Lina Sergie Attar, Time, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of bombardment
Verb
  • Sabio previously ran for Fairfax County School Board before launching his congressional campaign.
    — Amy DeLaura, The Washington Examiner, 15 Aug. 2026
  • In Southern California, Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer says his office has more than two dozen open investigations against parents after launching a new unit focused on e-bike and e-motorcycles cases involving children.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of launching

Browse Nearby Words

fireworks
firing
firing (at)
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Firing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/firing. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on firing

Nglish: Translation of firing for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Is “GIF” Pronounced “Jiff” or “Giff”?

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All