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 Word Forms

• unfulminant 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