fulminate

[ fuhl-muh-neyt ]

verb (used without object)

, ful·mi·nat·ed, ful·mi·nat·ing.

1. to explode with a loud noise; detonate.
2. to issue denunciations or the like (usually followed by against ):

   The minister fulminated against legalized vice.

verb (used with object)

, ful·mi·nat·ed, ful·mi·nat·ing.

1. to cause to explode.
2. to issue or pronounce with vehement denunciation, condemnation, or the like.

noun

1. one of a group of unstable, explosive compounds derived from fulminic acid, especially the mercury salt of fulminic acid, which is a powerful detonating agent.

fulminate

/ ˈfʌlmɪˌneɪt; ˈfʊl- /

verb

1. introften foll byagainst to make criticisms or denunciations; rail
2. to explode with noise and violence
3. archaic.
   intr to thunder and lighten

noun

1. any salt or ester of fulminic acid, esp the mercury salt, which is used as a detonator

Derived Forms

• ˈfulmiˌnator, noun
• ˌfulmiˈnation, noun
• ˈfulmiˌnatory, adjective

Other Words From

• fulmi·nator noun
• ful·mi·na·to·ry [fuhl, -m, uh, -n, uh, -tawr-ee, -tohr-ee], adjective
• non·fulmi·nating adjective
• un·fulmi·nated adjective
• un·fulmi·nating adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of fulminate¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English fulminaten < Latin fulminātus, past participle of fulmināre “to hurl thunderbolts, thunder,” equivalent to fulmin-, stem of fulmen “thunderbolt, lightning” + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of fulminate¹

C15: from Medieval Latin fulmināre ; see fulminant

Example Sentences

He fulminates hatred — a strong psychological addiction —- so his base won’t notice how he’s enriching his wealthy donors at their expense.

From Salon

For two years, the state quietly investigated the matter while Villanueva fulminated about it at seemingly every opportunity.

From Los Angeles Times

Then, in late January, a local blogger fulminated after finding her signature among 16,000 names on a two-year-old open letter that decried “apartheid” in Israel and the Palestinian territories.

From New York Times

“They are coming, they are coming, they are coming!” he fulminates in a clip the parents’ legal team plays for him during his 2019 deposition, at which he seems unmoved.

From Salon

My fellow liberals like to fulminate at conservatives for neglecting children and provoking culture wars for show, but the left also gets in the way of education.

From Seattle Times