fiery

fiery — adjective

1. having a bright, deep red colour that reminds you of fire or flames

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

having a bright, deep red colour that reminds you of fire or flames

Example

The autumn leaves turned a fiery red before Emre raked them into piles.

collocation: fiery red / fiery orange / fiery glow

A fiery sunset stretched across the sky above the small fishing village.

Common collocations
  • fiery red
  • fiery orange
  • fiery glow
  • fiery shade
Synonyms
  • flaming

    more direct reference to actual fire; less common for colour description

  • blazing

    suggests intense brightness and heat as well as colour

  • crimson

    a specific deep red without the fire association

Antonyms
  • pale

    lacking in colour intensity

  • dull

    not bright or vivid

Usage Note

Unlike basic colour words such as 'red' or 'crimson', 'fiery' always carries a visual association with fire or flames. It is most often used with natural phenomena (sunset, sky, leaves) or symbolic contexts.

Common Mistakes

She wore a fiery shirt.
She wore a fiery red shirt.
On its own, 'fiery' is not a standard colour name like 'red'; it needs a colour reference or context to describe the shade.

2. tasting very hot and sharp from strong spices, so that your mouth feels like it

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

tasting very hot and sharp from strong spices, so that your mouth feels like it is burning

Example

The fiery lamb curry at Ramón's restaurant made Sade reach for her water glass.

collocation: fiery + spicy food (curry, salsa, wings)

Kevin added fiery chili flakes to the noodles until steam rose from the bowl.

Common collocations
  • fiery curry
  • fiery salsa
  • fiery chili
  • fiery chicken wings
Synonyms
  • spicy

    general term; less intense than 'fiery'

  • hot

    can also refer to temperature; requires context to mean spicy

  • pungent

    more about strong smell or sharp taste than specifically spice heat

Antonyms
  • mild

    not strong in taste

  • bland

    lacking flavour or spice entirely

Usage Note

Used primarily for food or drink that contains strong chili-based heat. Not typically applied to medicine, chemical irritation, or temperature heat. 'Fiery' implies a much stronger level of spiciness than 'spicy' or 'hot'.

Common Mistakes

The soup is fiery.' (when it is only mildly spicy)
The soup is fiery.' (when it is extremely spicy and makes your mouth burn)
'Fiery' is reserved for intense, burning levels of spiciness, not everyday mild heat.

3. used to describe a person's feelings or behaviour when they are full of very str

3.adjectiveB2
Definition

used to describe a person's feelings or behaviour when they are full of very strong emotions such as anger or passion

Example

Christopher gave a fiery speech about education reform that moved the entire hall.

collocation: fiery speech / fiery temper / fiery response

A fiery argument between two drivers blocked traffic on the main road for an hour.

Common collocations
  • fiery speech
  • fiery temper
  • fiery argument
  • fiery response
  • fiery determination
Synonyms
  • passionate

    more positive; focuses on love or commitment rather than anger

  • heated

    describes a temporary state rather than a personality trait

  • fierce

    suggests aggressive determination without necessarily involving anger

Antonyms

Usage Note

Commonly modifies nouns related to speech (speech, debate, reply), temperament (temper, personality), or effort (determination, will). The anger connotation is generally stronger than the passion connotation in everyday use.

Common Mistakes

He gave a fiery speech about his weekend plans.
He gave a fiery speech about political injustice.
'Fiery' for emotions fits serious, strongly-felt topics, not everyday or trivial matters.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/3

'Fiery', 'passionate', 'fierce', 'heated', and 'volatile' all describe strong emotion, but they differ in tone and scope. 'Fiery' suggests a quick, bright intensity — like flames — often tied to anger ('fiery temper') but also to enthusiasm ('fiery speech'). 'Passionate' is warmer and more positive, focusing on deep love or commitment rather than anger. 'Fierce' implies aggressive determination or wild intensity ('fierce competitor') without necessarily involving anger. 'Heated' describes temporary emotional escalation in a specific situation ('heated debate'), not a personality trait. 'Volatile' is the strongest and most negative, suggesting unpredictable and dangerous mood swings. For everyday disagreements that get a little loud, 'heated' works best. For describing someone's permanent character, 'fiery' or 'volatile' fit depending on how extreme the person is.

passionate ↗fierce ↗heated ↗volatile

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Fiery comes from Middle English 'firi', which developed from Old English 'fȳr' (fire) plus the suffix '-y', meaning 'full of' or 'having the quality of'. Originally used to describe things literally on fire, it gradually expanded in the 14th and 15th centuries to cover colour, taste, and temperament — all drawing on the image of flames.