fulminate

[fuhl-muh-neyt]

verb (used without object)

fulminated, fulminating 

1. to explode with a loud noise; detonate.

2. to issue denunciations or the like (usually followed byagainst ).

   The minister fulminated against legalized vice.

verb (used with object)

fulminated, fulminating 

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. 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

Other Word Forms

• fulminator noun
• fulminatory adjective
• nonfulminating adjective
• unfulminated adjective
• unfulminating adjective
• fulmination noun

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

Mr. Lanthimos isn’t the type to thunder and fulminate and declare his themes, and the film doesn’t really align with any particular political outlook.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“It takes people who are wealthy in New York to maintain the museums, maintain the hospitals,” John Catsimatidis, a billionaire real estate and supermarket tycoon, fulminated on Fox News.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The comments came as Trump loyalists have been fulminating against each other online for days over the H-1B visas.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

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

Read more on Salon

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

Read more on Los Angeles Times