fiery
Americanadjective
-
consisting of, attended with, characterized by, or containing fire.
a volcano's fiery discharge.
-
intensely hot.
fiery desert sands.
-
like or suggestive of fire.
a fiery red; angry, fiery eyes.
-
intensely ardent, impetuous, or passionate.
fiery courage; a fiery speech.
- Synonyms:
- impassioned, spirited, vehement, fervent
- Antonyms:
- dispassionate, cold, cool
-
easily angered or provoked.
a fiery temper.
-
causing a burning sensation, as certain liquors or condiments.
-
inflamed, as a tumor or sore.
-
Mining: Older Use.
-
highly flammable.
-
containing highly flammable gas.
-
adjective
-
of, containing, or composed of fire
-
resembling fire in heat, colour, ardour, etc
a fiery desert wind
a fiery speaker
-
easily angered or aroused
a fiery temper
-
(of food) producing a burning sensation
a fiery curry
-
(of the skin or a sore) inflamed
-
flammable or containing flammable gas
-
(of a cricket pitch) making the ball bounce dangerously high
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of fiery
First recorded in 1225–75; Middle English fiery, fury, fery; see fire, -y 1
Explanation
When something is very hot or intense, it's fiery. Fiery can describe a literal blaze, a hot chili pepper, or even a fiery temper. Any time there's fire, you have a fiery situation. This word applies to a lot more than flames, though. If you lose your temper easily, you may be called hot-headed or fiery. An intense argument — with two people yelling and carrying on — could be called fiery. Any kind of intense emotion or passion is fiery. If you're a cool customer, you're not very fiery. Also, you could say that hot Indian curry or spicy chicken wings are fiery.
Vocabulary lists containing fiery
100 Great Words from "Fahrenheit 451" -- Part I Vocabulary
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"The Drummer Boy of Shiloh"
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Beowulf vocabulary
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
He was also known for his fiery on-court temper—“You cannot be serious!”—and his rivalry with Swedish player Björn Borg.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026
The council’s decision — which was preceded by several fiery comments from members of the public who oppose the use of license plate readers — sends the contract back to the Police Commission for reconsideration.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026
Qin Gang, China’s former foreign minister, once told Wilder that Xi “loved to drink,” and that the two had grown close on long flights over moutai, the fiery grain liquor prized by China’s elite.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026
Thirty-six years ago, Nigel flew across the Atlantic as the fiery outsider, tearing through Doug DeWitt in Atlantic City to secure his first world title.
From BBC ● Sep. 11, 2026
Jason stressed about controlling a team of fiery horses with wind ropes.
From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan
On another side of town, and in another fictional world, sketch-comedy group The Habit tries on a fierier stage adaptation with a much higher body count: the 1988 Christmas Eve action-thriller “Die Hard.”
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 12, 2019
With the help of a public speaking coach, he returned to the debates as a decidedly fierier presence.
From The Guardian ● Feb. 21, 2016
He was fierier than most Plowshares activists, a believer in miracles and prophecy, a bold “warrior for peace,” like Philip Berrigan.
From The New Yorker ● Feb. 28, 2015
While Mr. Boreyko led the orchestra in brisk, burnished readings — the brasses, not always the Philharmonic’s rock, were particularly strong — the final Allegro of the Dvorak could have been fierier.
From New York Times ● Nov. 25, 2012
Its timbre told that Peter Thorold’s spirit had been tempered in a furnace fierier than the one which had given forth the older man’s.
From The Best Short Stories of 1915 And the Yearbook of the American Short Story by Edward J. (Edward Joseph Harrington) O'Brien
The paper reported that there were parents in favor of the mask mandate, but some of the fieriest speeches came from those diametrically opposed.
From Fox News ● Aug. 18, 2021
Portraying Franklin - one of the last century's fieriest singers - is a daunting task, but although Hudson has a powerful voice, she can't come close to embodying the richness and range of Franklin's style.
From BBC ● Aug. 9, 2021
Todd Stottlemyre, known as one of the fieriest pitchers of his era, won 138 games in the majors from 1988 to 2002.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 17, 2016
Thomas’ dissent is, in many ways, the fieriest of the bunch.
From Slate ● Jun. 26, 2015
A snaffle curbs the fieriest steed, and he Who in subjection lives must needs be meek.
From Oedipus Trilogy by Francis Storr
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
