dynamite

American  

[dahy-nuh-mahyt] / ˈdaɪ nəˌmaɪt /

noun

1. a high explosive, originally consisting of nitroglycerin mixed with an absorbent substance, now with ammonium nitrate usually replacing the nitroglycerin.

2. any person or thing having a spectacular effect.

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verb (used with object)

dynamited, dynamiting

1. to blow up, shatter, or destroy with dynamite.

   Saboteurs dynamited the dam.

2. to mine or charge with dynamite.

adjective

1. Informal. creating a spectacular or optimum effect; great; topnotch.

   a dynamite idea; a dynamite crew.

dynamite British  

/ ˈdaɪnəˌmaɪt /

noun

1. an explosive consisting of nitroglycerine or ammonium nitrate mixed with kieselguhr, sawdust, or wood pulp

2. informal a spectacular or potentially dangerous person or thing

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verb

1. (tr) to mine or blow up with dynamite

dynamite Scientific  

/ dī′nə-mīt′ /

1. A powerful explosive used in blasting and mining. It typically consists of nitroglycerin and a nitrate (especially sodium nitrate or ammonium nitrate), combined with an absorbent material that makes it safer to handle.

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Other Word Forms

• dynamiter noun
• dynamitic adjective
• dynamitically adverb
• undynamited adjective

Etymology

Origin of dynamite

From Swedish dynamit, introduced by Alfred Bernhard Nobel ( def. ), its inventor in 1867; dynam-, -ite ¹

Example Sentences

We’ve all marveled at Shohei Ohtani’s Superman quick change, how he’ll go from dynamite pitcher to fearsome hitter in a few bats of an eye.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 15, 2026

A man who left a fake stick of dynamite outside the headquarters of MI5 has been found guilty of carrying out a bomb hoax.

From BBC • Feb. 28, 2026

It’s a reference to the Nobel Peace Prize and its founder, Alfred Nobel, the Swedish chemist who invented dynamite.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 12, 2025

The artwork depicts Kahlo sleeping in a bed that appears to float through the sky, beneath a skeleton with its legs wrapped in sticks of dynamite.

From Barron's • Nov. 21, 2025

Of course, Joe understood immediately that this dynamite had not just fallen from heaven in order to increase the personal wealth and power of Joe Mondragon, all-around handyman and bean farmer par extraordinaire.

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols

Related Words

• nitroglycerin