fiery

adjective

fi·​ery ˈfī(-ə)-rē How to pronounce fiery (audio)
fierier; fieriest
Synonyms of fierynext
1
a
: consisting of fire
fiery tongues playing about the roof of the burning building
b
: marked by fire
a fiery crash
c
: using or carried out with fire
the fiery experiments of the ancient alchemists
d
: liable to catch fire or explode : flammable
a fiery vapor
2
a
: hot like a fire
the fiery taste of red pepper
b(1)
: being in an inflamed state or condition
a fiery boil
(2)
: feverish and flushed
a fiery forehead
3
: of the color of fire : red
a fiery sunset
4
a
: full of or exuding emotion or spirit
a fiery sermon
b
: easily provoked : irritable
a fiery temper
fierily
ˈfī-rə-lē How to pronounce fiery (audio)
adverb
fieriness
ˈfī-rē-nəs How to pronounce fiery (audio)
noun
fiery adverb

Synonyms

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 

Examples of fiery in a Sentence

He was killed in a fiery crash. the fiery Yule log made a splendid backdrop for our holiday party
Recent Examples on the Web Already a funky track bursting with dynamism — from the rollicking guitar riffs to Kabaka’s playful vocal delivery — Sean Paul injects some fiery dancehall flavor with his new verse. —Kyle Denis, Billboard, 5 Apr. 2024 Who else needs a gin and tonic to cool down from Scott's fiery words? —Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 4 Apr. 2024 But that doesn’t take away from his fiery competitiveness. —Ben Morse, CNN, 4 Apr. 2024 As the fiery mango of the subtropical setting sun makes Miami’s condo skyline even more apocalyptic, the ship shoves off beneath a perfunctory display of fireworks. —Gary Shteyngart, The Atlantic, 4 Apr. 2024 But where photographers had struggled to capture the nuances and fiery hues of the sun’s corona, Butler succeeded by taking meticulous shorthand notes during the eclipses, then filling in the gaps later, a bit like a paint by numbers kit. —Elissaveta M. Brandon, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Apr. 2024 The aftermath of last year’s fiery train derailment in eastern Ohio doesn’t qualify as a public health emergency because widespread health problems and ongoing chemical exposures haven’t been documented, federal officials said. —Josh Funk, Fortune, 3 Apr. 2024 At the end of the 45-second clip, the fiery shower appears to dissipate and die off. —Michael Dorgan, Fox News, 3 Apr. 2024 His fiery death in a mysterious plane crash shortly afterwards permanently removed any Prigozhin threat. —Matthew Chance, CNN, 24 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fiery.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from fire, fier fire

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of fiery was in the 13th century

Podcast

Theme music by Joshua Stamper ©2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP

Dictionary Entries Near fiery

fieri facias

fiery

fiery azalea

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Fiery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fiery. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.

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Kids Definition

fiery

adjective
fi·​ery ˈfī-(ə-)rē How to pronounce fiery (audio)
fierier; fieriest
1
: being on fire : blazing
2
: hot or glowing like a fire
3
a
: full of spirit
a fiery speech
b
: easily set off
a fiery temper
fieriness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on fiery

Nglish: Translation of fiery for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of fiery for Arabic Speakers

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