fulminant

[ fuhl-muh-nuhnt ]

adjective

1. occurring suddenly and with great intensity or severity; fulminating.
2. Pathology. developing or progressing suddenly:

   fulminant plague.

ˈfulminant

/ ˈfʌlmɪnənt; ˈfʊl- /

adjective

1. sudden and violent; fulminating
2. pathol (of pain) sudden and sharp; piercing

Other Words From

• un·fulmi·nant adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of fulminant¹

1595–1605; < Latin fulminant- (stem of fulmināns ), present participle of fulmināre to fulminate; -ant

Word History and Origins

Origin of fulminant¹

C17: from Latin fulmināre to cause lightning, from fulmen lightning that strikes

Example Sentences

The family took Juliet to a nearby hospital, where they were told that she was experiencing an acute form of heart inflammation called fulminant myocarditis.

From New York Times

According to the World Health Organization, a small proportion of people infected with the virus could die from fulminant hepatitis.

From Seattle Times

My personal pleasure required the most physical practical sequencing: fulminant jazz, call it—without, incidentally, the kitsch of musical accompaniment.

From The New Yorker

The all-nighter had tipped him into a burst of fulminant mania.

From The New Yorker

For people who have a particularly fulminant form of the disease, the window can close pretty quickly.

From National Geographic

Related Words

• fiery
• frenzied
• hazardous
• meteoric
• stormy
• tense
• touchy
• ugly
• uncontrollable
• unstable
• violent